Occlusal Indicators Used in Dental Practice: A Survey Study.

INTRODUCTION: The function of the masticatory apparatus is complete when the dentition is intact with contact between the individual teeth and proper occlusion with the antagonists. For years, occlusal contacts have been studied to determine their exact location and describing various materials and methods for their registration such as paper foil, silk, and Shimstock foil. For years, occlusal contacts have been studied to determine their exact location and describe various materials and methods for their registration such as paper foil, silk, shim stock foil, the T-Scan system, and more recently the OccluSense system. The primary aim of the study was at evaluating which of the occlusal indicators is the most commonly used in practice, and the secondary aim was whether dentists are willing to use digital methods to examine occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The main primary information of the survey was collected by sending electronically anonymous questionnaires to 2014 dentists, randomly selected from all regions of the country. 228 questionnaires were filled in and returned. To achieve the goal of the study, the self-developed questionnaire was created and tested to survey the opinion about the use of occlusal indicators in dental practice. Each questionnaire contains questions about the sociodemographic and professional status of the people in the group and their opinion about the positives and negatives and the effectiveness of occlusal indicators. RESULTS: The obtained results confirm the statement that the most frequently used occlusal indicator in dental practice is the articulation paper. Articulation foil and silk are used less frequently than articulation paper. Of the listed quality indicators, Shimstock foil is rarely used in practice. Of the indicated quantitative indicators, the T-Scan system is more used than the OccluSense system. In the era of rapid technology development, the opinion and desire of dentists to increasingly want to introduce in their clinical practice quantitative methods are the digital diagnosis of occlusion. CONCLUSION: In any dental practice, if technically possible, digital methods would be used, giving more accurate and reliable data on the registered occlusal contacts.

Comparative Study Qualitative and Quantitative Techniques in the Study of Occlusion.

INTRODUCTION: The wide variety of methods for recording occlusal contacts and the contradictory data on the interpretation of the obtained markings provoked us to make a comparative laboratory study between different occlusal indicators. PURPOSE: Evaluation of a qualitative and quantitative method for registration of occlusal contacts in static occlusion in laboratory conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In completion of the objective, we designed an apparatus for registration of the occlusal contacts (AROC) in static occlusion which is used, corresponding to the MIP in clinical conditions. The occlusal indicators that were included in the study were articulating paper 100 µ, articulating foil 12 µ, and T-Scan Novus system with a sensor thickness of 100 µ. The collected primary statistical information was entered and processed with the statistical package SPSS Statistics 19.0, and the graphs were prepared using Microsoft Office 2019. We performed descriptive statistical analysis in this study. Comparisons were performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student's t-test, and Pearson coefficient method. For a significance level, p < 0.05 was chosen. Result and Discussion. With quality occlusal indicators, it is possible only to visually determine the size, number, and intensity of the marked contacts. After the statistical processing of the obtained data on the number of registered contacts, a significant difference is found in the number of contacts of certain teeth (18, 24, 25, 28, 38, 35, 34, 33, 44, 45, and 48) registered with articulating paper and articulating foil. The maximum force that is reported during the study with the T-Scan system is 93.72% and the forces in the right half of the dentition are 51.7% and in the left 48.9%. To visualize the location of the registered occlusal contacts with the system, it is intraoral to use a quality indicator and we recommend the use of articulating foil. CONCLUSION: Based on findings from the current in vitro simulation, we can conclude that the type of occlusal indicator influences the registration of contacts, and therefore, we propose as a method of choice to achieve a balanced occlusion in clinical practice to combine the use of one conventional and one quantitative method.

Laboratory Study of Color Stability of Different Types of Materials for Temporary Constructions.

INTRODUCTION: A temporary construction serves as a preliminary representation of the type and appearance of a future permanent one that is tailored to the patient's requirements. Like any prosthetic construction, it should meet the functional requirements, preserve or improve chewing and speech function. No matter how well maintained a prophylactic and functional prosthetic structure is, it will not be evaluated by the patient unless it retains and restores the existing shape, size and color of the natural teeth. AIM: To determine instrumentally to what extent different colorants change the color of temporary constructions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two materials for temporary restoration were tested - Protemp II and Protemp IV, of which a total of 100 test specimens, were fabricated. Under the equal storage conditions of room temperature and no direct access to sunlight, they were exposed to five 100-ml staining solutions: Coca-Cola, coffee (espresso), berry tea, orange juice and red wine in five separate containers. Measurements of color changes in the three areas of the tooth were performed using two spectrophotometric devices - Vita EasyShade and SpectroShade, at different time intervals - immediately before placement in the staining solution, at 1, 4, 7, and 14 days. RESULTS: The results were analysed using the SPSS Statistical Processing Program (SPSS Inc., IBM SPSS Statistics) version 21.0. They were converted to a text file with the converter of the same program. In hypothesis testing, a standard value of p ≤ 0.05 was chosen for the level of significance that rejects the null hypothesis. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, the strong colouring effect of coffee and red wine on these restorations was demonstrated. We can conclude that Protemp IV material showed better color stability compared to Protemp II.

Clinical Negative Pressure Measurement after Border Molding Procedure.

INTRODUCTION: Border molding of the custom tray's edge is an important stage in the treatment of an edentulous jaw that determines the stability of prosthesis at rest and function. Solid, thermoplastic and silicon impression materials may be used in border molding. After bolder molding procedure, the negative pressure between the custom tray and the prosthetic field is created. This is an informal indication for a good impression. AIM: To compare the negative pressure created after border molding procedure with different impression materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 35 patients (17 men and 18 women) aged 51 to 87 years with a complete edentulous upper jaw were examined. New clinical method for negative pressure measurement was created.  We used a special custom tray with palatal adaptor and a pump. Two groups of impression materials were tested:  thermoplastic (Kerr impression compound green sticks, GC Iso functional sticks) and silicones (Detaseal function, Sta-seal f). Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA, confirmed by the absolute value analysis used to compare negative results, and a log transformation analysis for greater precision and also for negative data comparison. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found between the two thermoplastic materials - GC Iso functional sticks and Impression compound green sticks. The mean group difference between these materials was 0.049 bars. There was no statistically significant difference between the other groups of materials. CONCLUSION: Quantitative measurement of negative pressure, created between the custom tray and the prosthetic field is entirely possible under clinical conditions.

Laboratory investigation of Accuracy of Impression Materials for Border Molding.

INTRODUCTION: Border molding of the edge of the individual impression tray is an important stage of prosthetic treatment of edentulous jaws, which often depends on the final result of the treatment. Classical thermoplastic impression materials for border molding have positive qualities that make them preferable by clinicians for their hardness, unlimited manipulation time and high impression sharpness. Modern silicone impression materials for border molding have long manipulating time and appropriate viscosity to allow dentists to perform functional tests. AIM: To determine the accuracy of different impression materials for border molding of individual impression trays. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four impression materials for border molding were laboratory tested: Kerr impression compound green sticks and thermoplastic GC Iso functional sticks, additive type silicone Detaseal function and condensation type silicone sta-seal f. A modified individual impression tray designed by authors was used, allowing for laboratory load and stability. Ten impressions were taken and their formed edges were measured at 10 points three times - immediately after hardening/elasification, and 24 hours and 48 hours after hardening/elasification. RESULTS: The results were analysed using ANOVA repetition analysis, where a statistically insignificant difference in the accuracy of three of the impression materials for border molding was established, except the C-type of silicone. CONCLUSIONS: Good manipulative qualities and measured accuracy in laboratory tests define these materials as very good for border molding procedures.