Dr. Charushila S. Sardar

Professor,

Department of Prosthodontics

School of Dentistry,

D.Y. Patil Deemed to be University

Nerul, Navi-Mumbai

Keywords: Digitization, Occlusal Interferences, Occlusal indicators.

Citation: Sardar CS, Visualize the Invisibles-part 1. J Prosthodont Dent Material 2023;4(1)

The aim of Prosthodontics is function, aesthetics and precision. The success of any prosthesis depends on the occlusal harmony & comfort. Disharmonious occlusal contacts can lead to discomfort during mastication. 

Any premature contacts or occlusal interferences of teeth will cause pain during maximum intercuspation or excursive jaw movements. An occlusal interference of even a few microns can trigger severe irritation which can lead to pain, mobility, wear facets, widening of periodontal ligament, temporomandibular joint pain and myalgia.1

Occlusal interference is any tooth contact that inhibits the remaining occluding surfaces from achieving any stable and harmonious contact.2

Occlusal testing materials/occlusal indicators are used to locate occlusal contacts, recording and transferring inter occlusal relationship onto an articulator. Many occlusal testing materials/occlusal indicators are used to locate and record these premature occlusal contacts without measuring the occlusal forces but the Digital Occlusal Analysis systems have made it possible.

 

Occlusal testing materials/Occlusal indicators are classified as3 

  1. Qualitative/Nondigital
  2. Quantitative materials/Digital

 

  1. Qualitative/Non digital/Conventional indicators are-

Articulating papers, film, silk, high spot indicators, wax, foil, metallic shimstock etc.

  1. Quantitative/Digital indictors are-

T-scan, Photo occlusion, Virtual Dental Patient, Occlusense

With the advent of Digital technology and innovations of newer dental materials, Digital Dentistry has made its presence felt in all areas of dental procedures with speed and precision. 

The era of Digital Occlusion began when the T-Scan was developed by Maness et al.in 1984   that can record occlusal forces easily and conveniently. Numerous authors since the mid 1980s have studied the various T-Scan versions, which inspired the manufacturer to improve the hardware, and develop more accurate, repeatable, and precise recording sensors. 

These T-Scan system modifications aid Dentist in diagnosing and treating a wide range of occlusal abnormalities far more predictably than can be accomplished with articulating paper ink marks combined with Shim-stock hold.4,5

 Occlusense is a totally new digital occlusion system that was released in 2019. The system developed by Dr. Jean Bausch combines the traditional and digital registration of the pressure distribution of occlusal forces.  

 

References:

  1. Sharma A, Rahul GR, Poduval ST, Shetty K et al. History of materials used for recording static and dynamic marks: for literature review. J Clin Exp Dent. 2013; 5(1)48-53.
  2. The Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms: Ninth Edition. J Prosthet Dent. 2017 May;117(5S):e1-e105. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2016.12.001.
  3. Mir SN, Choudhary A, Jagdeesh HG. Occlusal Indicators-Chasing blue marks? a review. TMU J.Dent. 2014;1(3):92-95.
  4. Koos B, Godt A, Schille C, Göz G. Precision of an instrumentation-based Method of Analyzing Occlusion and its Resulting Distribution of Forces in the Dental Arch. J Orofac Orthop. 2010;71(6):403-410. doi:10.1007/s00056-010-1023-7
  5. Andrus R, Qian F, Weir D, Schneider R, Huber L, Kerstein RB. Comparison of results of traditional occlusal adjustment technique with computer-aided occlusal adjustment technique. Adv Dent Tech. 2019;1(2):43-53.