Comparative evaluation of occlusal forces in altered and unaltered VDO using OccluSense

Area of Science:

• Dental science
• Biomechanical engineering
• Clinical dentistry

Background:

• Tooth wear significantly impacts occlusal forces and vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO).
• Accurate assessment of these changes is crucial for successful full-mouth rehabilitation.
• Understanding occlusal force distribution in patients with tooth wear is clinically relevant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate occlusal force distribution in subjects with varying degrees of tooth wear.
• To compare occlusal forces between controls and patients with attrition, with altered or unaltered VDO.
• To assess the utility of digital occlusal analysis in diagnosing and planning full-mouth rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• Occlusal forces were measured in 65 subjects (aged 35-60) using the OccluSense system.
• Subjects were categorized into controls and patients with attrition (altered or unaltered VDO).
• Statistical analysis included ANOVA and t-tests to compare intergroup and intragroup force distributions.

Main Results:

• No significant overall intergroup differences in occlusal forces were observed.
• Patients with attrition and altered VDO (Group 2) showed significantly higher forces in the right anterior region.
• Intragroup analysis revealed significant forces in the right anterior and right first molar regions for affected patients.

Conclusions:

• Digital occlusal analysis provides valuable data for precise diagnosis in full-mouth rehabilitation.
• Altered VDO in patients with tooth wear may lead to localized increases in occlusal forces.
• The findings support the use of advanced diagnostic tools for effective treatment planning in complex dental cases.