Oclusió

Oclusió, in Catalan, denotes the act of occluding or the state of being occluded. The concept is used across disciplines and derives from Latin occludere, to close or shut. In general usage it encompasses blocking, covering, or the closing of openings.

In dentistry, dental occlusion describes the relationship between the upper and lower teeth when the jaws are closed. It underpins function, comfort and wear patterns. Key terms include centric relation (the jaw position) and centric occlusion (the contact pattern). Ideal occlusion aims for harmonious contacts with minimal abnormal stresses. Malocclusions are often classified using Angle's system into Class I, II and III, reflecting skeletal and dental relationships. Causes include genetic factors, crowding, tooth size discrepancies, and habits. Consequences can include temporomandibular joint disorders, tooth wear and gingival trauma, and esthetic concerns. Management ranges from orthodontic treatment and restorative adjustments to occlusal splints and bite re-education.

In medicine, occlusion refers to blockage of a blood vessel, reducing or stopping blood flow. It can be thrombotic, embolic, or due to atherosclerotic plaque. Vascular occlusion may cause ischemia and tissue injury, such as stroke from cerebral artery occlusion or myocardial infarction from coronary occlusion. Treatments include antithrombotic therapy, thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, and addressing underlying risk factors.

In computer graphics, occlusion describes visibility relationships among objects. Occlusion can be used in rendering optimization via occlusion culling, which removes objects hidden from the viewer, thereby reducing computational load.