Conventional vs. digital occlusal analysis methods
Advancements in digital dentistry technology may improve occlusal analysis.
Digital devices for the recording of occlusal contacts are continuing to replace more conventional occlusal analysis strategies.
In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, researchers compared the inter-rater reliability of occlusal contact point detection between 40-micrometer articulating paper, the Medit i700 intraoral scanner and the OccluSense digital occlusal analysis system among 25 patients aged 20 to 30 years. They also examined the distribution of occlusal contacts using either articulating paper or intraoral scanners.
The researchers discovered that the 40-micrometer articulating paper achieved near perfect agreement for all static and dynamic contacts and detected a greater mean number of contacts per tooth — excluding the third molars — compared with the intraoral scanner and digital occlusal analysis system.
The study authors noted that despite the findings, there are no preferred methods for occlusal assessment.
Read more: Journal of Clinical Medicine
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