Occlusal parameters and wear of artificial teeth in complete dentures with lingualized versus bilateral balanced...

This study aimed to assess the occlusal contact area (OCA), occlusal contact number (OCN), bite force, and artificial tooth wear in complete dentures with lingualized and bilateral balanced occlusion.

Edentulous participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were divided into the three groups as follows: group I, dentures with lingualized occlusion using interpenetrating polymer network artificial teeth; group II, dentures with lingualized occlusion using double cross-linked artificial teeth; and group III, dentures with bilateral balanced occlusion using anatomical micro-hybrid resin teeth. The silicone techniques were used to assess the OCA and OCN of the mandibular dentures and the Dental Prescale II was used to evaluate the bite force at the 2-week, 3-month, and 12-month follow-up visits. Occlusal contact analyzer software was used to assess the maxillary and mandibular posterior tooth wear at the 12-month follow-up visit. All data was analyzed using the SPSS software.

The OCA of group III was significantly higher than that of groups I and II at the 2-week follow-up visit, whereas group I was considerably higher than groups II and III at the 3-month and 12-month follow-up visits. The OCN of the three groups exhibited significant differences at all three follow-up visits. Groups I and II had significantly lower bite force than Group III at the three follow-up visits. At the 12-month follow-up visit, groups I and II had significantly higher wear than Group III.

As the duration of use increases, the occlusal contact area of complete dentures increases, regardless of the occlusal schemes. The bite force of lingualized occlusion is typically lower than that of bilateral balanced occlusion. The wear locations of artificial teeth differ between the two types of occlusal schemes. (Retrospectively registered: The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, No. ChiCTR2300073420(11/07/2023)).