Phantom bite: a real or a phantom diagnosis? A case report.

This case report describes computer-guided occlusal therapy in a patient who met the unified diagnostic criteria for phantom bite. After a review of the patient's medical history, along with a diagnostic work-up that included cone beam computed tomography, temporomandibular joint vibration analysis, and digital occlusal analysis, problematic dental components were discovered (including prolonged disclusion time and imbalanced bite force). A digital occlusal analyzer evaluated the patient's occlusion and systematically guided the necessary changes. After reduction of the disclusion time and correction of the occlusal force imbalance, the patient reported significant improvement in comfort. The results suggest that phantom bite could be an abnormal occlusal condition and not a psychological or neurologic somatoform disorder.

A digital poll of dentists testing the accuracy of paper mark subjective interpretation.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to test subjective interpretation accuracy via digital polling of a large group of dentists to determine whether dentists can reliably interpret occlusal forces by visually assessing articulating paper markings. METHODS: One hundred fifty-two dentists selected the most forceful occlusal contact in five occlusal-view photographs of articulating paper marks that were compared against T-Scan® relative occlusal levels of the same tooth contacts. RESULTS: The mean correct response was a mere 13.13% correct (86.87% incorrect). Random chance was calculated at 16.7% correct. The cuspid contacts were the least often chosen as the most forceful contact. The Mann-Whitney U test found a significant difference between choosing the anterior teeth vs. posterior teeth. onclusions: Subjective interpretation is an inaccurate method for determining high force occlusal contacts. The reported low correct percentage fell below random chance, suggesting that dentists are unable to detect high occlusal force from looking at articulating paper marks.

Incidence of headaches related to occlusion and bite force imbalance: a case study.

AIMS: The purpose of this case report is to share an incidence where a bite force imbalance and occlusal interferences contributed to chronic daily headaches. METHODS: A TekScan digital occlusal analyzer was used to evaluate the bite and systematically guide alterations to the patient's occlusion. RESULTS: After the bite was adjusted and optimized, the patient reported a decrease in her headaches.Shortly afterward, she sustained trauma to her face that altered the way her bite came together. Via physical therapy modalities to heal the muscle, occlusion was restored to the pre-trauma relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Once the patient's bite was balanced and the interferences removed, the headaches were greatly improved.