Occlusal force analysis with T-Scan and Innobyte in adult patients: a prospective study

This prospective study investigated differences in occlusal force among adult patients with various vertical skeletal patterns and evaluated the association between total occlusal force and the centre of force position. Ninety-six subjects (46 females, 50 males; mean age 26.4 years, SD 1.4) with Angle Class I malocclusion were enrolled and classified as hyperdivergent, normodivergent, and hypodivergent according to the SN-MP angle. Digital occlusal analysis was performed using the T-Scan Novus system to assess occlusal contact time and centre of force position at maximum intercuspation, while maximum occlusal force was recorded using the Innobyte device. The centre of force was classified as anterior, centred, or posterior based on its spatial location within the dental arch. Intergroup comparisons were conducted using Welch ANOVA with Games-Howell post hoc tests, and a generalized linear model evaluated the association between occlusal force and centre of force position (α = 0.05). Hypodivergent subjects showed the highest total occlusal force and occlusion time (513.3 N, 7.9 s), while hyperdivergent individuals exhibited the lowest (399.54 N, 6.93 s). In hypodivergent subjects, the centre of force was mainly anterior (70.7%), whereas in hyperdivergent individuals it was predominantly posterior (76.41%). A significant association was observed between total occlusal force and centre of force position (p < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons showed higher occlusal force (+ 54.61 N, p < 0.05) associated with an anterior centre of force (+ 116.78 N; p < 0.001) compared with the posterior group. Overall, increased occlusal force correlated with an extended time required to reach maximum intercuspation.