Effect of placing intentionally high restorations: Randomized clinical trial

The aim of this study was to examine the behavior of posterior teeth restored with single-tooth restorations with intentionally high occlusal contacts.

Consent was obtained from 17 patients who were seen a total of 5 times over 3.5 years. The restorations placed were all full occlusal coverage gold restorations. Tooth mobility was recorded using the Periotest device and tooth movement was determined from impressions and 3D imaging. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups, the control group which received restorations with no intentional increase of the occlusal vertical dimension; or the treatment group where they received intentionally high restorations in 0.5mm supraocclusion.

Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in mobility between visits for both the control and the treatment groups while a significant dependency and difference in tooth movement was observed between the subjects of the two groups. Most patients from the treatment group reported discomfort but no pain for the first 7-10 days after the restoration was fitted, which subsided over a period of couple of weeks. At review, 3 years later, no mobility or additional movement was observed.

Cementation of an intentionally high single-tooth restoration causes no increase in tooth mobility while occlusal adaptation re-establishes and restores the occlusal plane.