Computerized occlusal analysis technology and Cerec case finishing

Computerized occlusal analysis is becoming the principal tool available to clinicians with which to understand functional and parafunctional forces of occlusal contact, contact timing sequences, and occlusal surface interface pressures, which arise as teeth mill against each other during mandibular movements. Because recent research on articulating paper has revealed that articulating paper mark size does not measure occlusal forces predictably, the modern clinician needs to employ an occlusal contact measuring device that can reliably determine aberrant occlusal force concentrations and time prematurities. Computerized occlusal analyses can be used to guide the operator as to which tooth contact locations require appropriate occlusal adjustments. When inserting Cerec restorations, computerized occlusal analysis can be employed to target excessive force concentrations and time premature contacts to better preserve the Cerec materials, than can be accomplished with "articulating paper-only" occlusal adjusting. This paper describes the evolution of computerized occlusal analysis, the system attributes, and illustrates its use in case-finishing Cerec bonded lingual guidance veneers.