Measurement of tooth displacement

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Mechanics
• Periodontology

Background:

• The periodontium supports teeth, allowing controlled movement in response to applied loads.
• The periodontal ligament's suspension effect may protect dental restorations.
• A lack of devices to measure tooth displacement hindered research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel system for measuring axial tooth displacement in vivo.
• To quantify the vertical movement of teeth under applied bite forces.
• To investigate factors influencing tooth displacement, such as bite force duration and participant demographics.

Main Methods:

• A custom device was engineered to capture images of teeth before, during, and after biting.
• Image processing software was utilized to measure tooth displacement from captured images.
• Participants' teeth were subjected to controlled bite forces to assess movement.

Main Results:

• An average maximum tooth displacement of 73.8 μm (SD = 22.5 μm) was recorded across participants.
• Longer bite force application correlated with greater cumulative tooth displacement.
• Female participants exhibited slightly greater displacement per Newton compared to males.

Conclusions:

• The developed device and methodology show promise for measuring in vivo vertical tooth movements.
• Observed tooth responses to load demonstrate the visco-elastic nature of the periodontal ligament.
• The measured tooth mobility supports the concept of controlled movement offering protection to teeth and restorations.