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A Pressure Sensitive Occlusal Contact Indicator For Implant Restorations: An Observational Clinical Evaluation

Millstein Philip ¹

E. Sabrosa Carlos ² Yung Wai ³

1 Department of Restorative Dentistry, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA. USA

2 Department of Integrated Procedures, University of The State of Rio de, Janeiro, Brazil

3 Department of Engineering, Johnson and Wales University, Providence, RI

Abstract

Contact intensity is a significant factor in immoveable implant restorations. This study visually compares the use of four occlusal contact indicators one of which measures contact intensity and surface area in a single subject. The need for an occlusal contact indicator that can be used with fixed implant restorations is examined. Three contact indicators used in practice are visually compared to a novel system where pressure sensitive information and surface area can be evaluated numerically and stored. Findings suggest that intensity and surface area should be measured upon implant placement. Limitations of this observational study are discussed. Directions for future research and more systematic study are offered

Author Contributions

Received Nov 02, 2022 Accepted Dec 01, 2022 Published Dec 08, 2022

Copyright© 2022 Millstein Philip, et al.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Competing interests

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Funding Interests:

Citation:

Millstein Philip, E. Sabrosa Carlos, Yung Wai (2022) A Pressure Sensitive Occlusal Contact Indicator For Implant Restorations: An Observational Clinical Evaluation Journal of Dentistry And Oral Implants. - 2(4):14-19

DOI 10.14302/issn.2473-1005.jdoi-22-4360

Introduction

Occlusal contacts are proprioceptors which direct the movement of the mandible to the maxilla. They are sensitive to touch 1. It is important to measure occlusal contact in order to assess an occlusion. Grinding, clenching and wear can be assessed by studying the occlusal contact recordings. The size of a contact is synonomous with surface movement. Wear may be assessed with intensity of contact. Intensity varies with the occlusion and tooth movement. Clenching is assessed with intensity measurements. With implants the mechano transduction of occlusal force may be detrimental because there is no periodontium to mitigate potential trauma to the underlying bony scaffold. Implants are fixed in their boney housing 2. Measuring contact intensity and surface area may provide a means to assess a dentition mixed with natural and implant supported restorations. Light and heavy occlusal contact areas can be adjusted to complement an existing occlusion. Measurements in millimeters can be recorded for further comparison however a description of an ideal occlusal contact is unknown.

It is assumed that implant restorations rely on the surrounding bone and temporo-mandibular joint for proprioception. Implants are immoveable; teeth move 5. Occlusal contact indicators do not record movement, they record a fixed position. Neural paths control occlusal patterns. Bruxism 3 and clenching 4 are caused by neural aberrations that are manifest in occlusal contact, intensity, and mandibular movement. Occlusal contact aberrations present clinical issues practitioners face. Such issues include contact intensity and contact expansion. Occlusal imbalance may add or subtract from periodontal health and implant stability 6. Implants do not possess a periodontal housing which means that vertical forces are sustainable but horizontal forces can damage implant stability 7. Minor tooth movement vertically and horizontally is required to sustain a healthy periodontium. Mixed dentitions with teeth and implants cannot work in occlusal harmony because of the uneven tooth and implant contact intensities 6. Infra occlusion which is not recorded results in no occlusal contact or tooth support. Normal tooth support for the dentition is altered. Comparisons of occlusal records over time are not made. Clinicians continue to confront occlusal aberrations that are not clinically visible. They cannot record occlusal contact intensity. Ultimately it is the functioning occlusal contact that determines occlusal/oral health 78.

Materials And Methods

Materials and Methods

This observational study compares four clinically used methods for recording occlusal contacts. Recordings were made using each of four different methods on the same subject who volunteered participation. All recordings were made in office by one clinician (CS) during the same time period. A clinical subject with few restorations was selected and the subject agreed to the procedure along with the right to publish the results. There are no quantitative measurements. Ankylosis is a factor that was not addressed. The recording indicator systems evaluated were: 1. Accufilm (Parkell, Brentwood NY. USA). 2. Blue paper (Bausch, Nashua NH. USA), 3. Primescan (Densply/Serona, Waltham MA. USA), 4. PMscan (Mco, Boston MA. USA). In all procedures the subject was advised on how to close and the procedure was repeated. The subject made one hard closure into or onto the marking surface and the results were recorded and are displayed in (Figure 1) (Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4 )

Figure 1. Articulating film Figure 2. Blue marking paper Figure 3. Primescan Figure 4. PMscan

Discussion

At present there are few measurement systems that record the occlusion and store the information. T Scan (Boston,MA.USA) records occlusal force but does not record occlusal contact or intensity. The effort to align force with contact is unknown. OcclusSence Guide for Digital Occlusion (Bausch: Nashua, NH.USA) also records force along with area. Surface area is dictated by the indicator markings. It does not include intensity and parametric movement.

All materials and systems differ as do the recordings. Bite intensity is difficult to record except with the PMscan which also records infra occlusion 10. The figures suggest that intensity is important in aligning implant restorations and in monitoring bruxism and clenching pathologies 11. Paper and film do not record intensity and their markings are not permanent. Primescan requires a CAD system and does not record intensity or movement. PMscan records intensity and movement. The relation of occlusal contact to touch is unknown. What is evident is that the older systems may not fit present needs. New restorative procedures, techniques and repair systems require monitoring systems that fit the demands of today. Contact, intensity and permanent multidimensional recording systems are essential. The understanding of occlusion remains elusive.

Journal of Dentistry And Oral Implants