An occlusal contact analysis of lateral mandibular movement using T-Scan system

Abstract

Purpose: Most of the former studies about the occlusal contact patterns during the mandibular movement focused on foreigner. The purpose of this study is analyzing the occlusal contacts of young Koreans by using T-Scan system. Materials and methods: The sample size was 87 and the occlusal contacts of each right and left lateral movements were measured from the maximum intercuspation to the 3mm excursive position for three times respectively. All of the occlusal contacts were double checked through the thin metal foil. The results were categorized as two; 1) considering occlusal contact patterns on working side only, 2) considering occlusal contact patterns on working and nonworking sides. Results: The results showed that the nonworking side occlusal contacts play major roles in the lateral mandibular movement. In both cases of considering with and without the nonworking side occlusal contacts, the group function was the most prevalent. In the working side, the contacts were the most frequent in canine and the frequency of contacts was decreased as the distance was increased from canine to molar. In the nonworking side, the contacts were the most frequent in second molar. And the gender factor was statistically significant (α =.05), as females have more nonworking side occlusal contacts in this study. Conclusion: Among the three factors of anterior guidance, the group function was the most dominant factor. The analysis of 87 samples showed that canine contact was the most frequent in the working side and second molar contact was the most common in the nonworking side. (J Korean Acad Prosthodont 2015;53:128-37)