Which of the following is a sign of occlusal trauma?

• A. Tooth mobility
• B. Bleeding gums during brushing
• C. Increased saliva
• D. Tooth eruption

Answer: (A)

Occlusal trauma occurs when biting forces exceed what the tooth-supporting structures can handle, leading to changes in the periodontal ligament and surrounding bone. The most telling sign is tooth mobility, because excessive forces loosen the tooth from its socket as the supporting tissues adapt or deteriorate. This mobility may come with other signs like brief tapping-induced discomfort or fremitus, and radiographs can show changes in the space around the tooth, but the visible looseness is the key clinical clue.

Bleeding gums during brushing points to gingival inflammation or periodontal disease, not specifically occlusal trauma. Increased saliva and tooth eruption are not indicators of traumatic occlusion; eruption is a developmental process, not a response to occlusal forces.