The first physiological elevation of the occlusion is caused by eruption of which teeth?

• A. temporary lower incisors
• B. permanent lower incisors
• C. temporary molars
• D. permanent molars

Answer: (C)

The first physiological elevation of the bite occurs when the deciduous molars erupt. These are the first posterior teeth to come in during early childhood, and once they erupt they create the initial functional occlusion between the upper and lower jaws. Incisors, while they appear earlier, do not establish a true posterior bite and thus don’t raise the occlusion in the same way. Permanent molars and incisors erupt later, so they aren’t responsible for this initial occlusal elevation.