The relationship between the severity of periodontitis and occlusal conditions monitored by the K6 Diagnostic System

The occlusal conditions of periodontitis patients were investigated by using a computerized monitoring device. Thirty-three mild to severe periodontitis patients were enrolled in the study and they were categorized into three groups by their periodontitis severity. Each subject answered a preliminary questionnaire, received routine dental examinations, and underwent MKG/EMG tests using the K6 Diagnostic System. Clinical manifestations of periodontitis were confirmed by the questionnaire and the routine clinical examinations. According to the MKG tests, the traces of maximum opening distance and vertical freeway space showed no significant statistical difference among the groups. However, the velocity of terminal tooth contact was significantly delayed in the severe periodontitis group. According to the EMG tests, there was no significant difference in the rest mode EMG activities, but the function mode EMG activities significantly weakened in the severe periodontitis group. These results showed that severe periodontitis patients had poor occlusal conditions that might have been triggered by the instability of centric occlusion due to attachment loss.