Picket Fence Diagrams for Occlusion

[toothfairy2011]

Hi Everyone,

For those of you who are using the "picket fence" method for occlusion, could you help me clarify a detail on the diagram for the SUPPORTING cusps?

Just so we are talking about the same figure, here's a description of the one I am refering to:

1. In the maxilla, there are mesial and distal lingual cusps
2. In the mandible, there are mesial and distal buccal cusps
3. For the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd molars, there is a central fossa (CF) separating the depicted cusps
4. Mesial marginal ridges and distal marginal ridges are also shown.
5. Lingual (on the mandible) and Buccal (on the maxilla) Embrasure lines are also shown.

Hopefully this description is clear.

So my question is....
What is the purpose of denoting the buccal and lingual embrasure lines in this diagram?

If I understand correctly, all the "important" contacts from this diagram only have to do with the cusps and the DMR, MMR, and CF.
For instance, the Mx1M MLC occludes the CF of the Mn1M.

Am I missing an important point of why the creator of this method felt it was important to note that the buccal and lingual embrasure lines are where they are on this diagram?

Thanks!!

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