Force Finishing and Centering to Balance a Removable Complete Denture Prosthesis Using the T-Scan III Computerized Occlusal Analysis System

Abstract

Obtaining bilateral balance of removable complete denture prostheses is the occlusal goal of the restorative dentist or prosthodontist. Despite our best clinical efforts, and the using of advanced mechanical devices like semi-adjustable articulators and face bow transfer mounting of dental casts, it is a struggle to provide accurate occlusal force balance. Some of the advocated reasons for the clinical difficulty of obtaining reliable occlusal balance are that stone casts lack soft tissue resiliency, and articulators only approximate human occlusal functional movements. However, modern technology offers clinicians a digital answer to this clinical force balance problem. It is known as computerized occlusal analysis. The T-Scan III system can be employed with complete removable denture prostheses to perform computer-guided occlusal force-finishing corrective adjustments that measurably improve the installed prosthetic occlusal balance.

The Effect of Computer Guided Occlusal Adjustment on Radiographic Outcome and Masticatory Efficiency of Implant-Supported Overdentures

“…In agreement with Muller, et al test results confirmed this phenomenon that patients with mandibular implantsupported overdenture tend to acquire thicker and stronger masseter muscle than conventional denture wearers by time [16]. Masseter muscle in mandibular implant-supported overdenture patients provide more efficient mastication considering the time for complete muscle adaptation.…”

“…After 12 months, significant differences were reported and T-scan III group (Group II) showed to have better mastication of both chewing gums with less variance of hue. A strong correlation can be documented with studies carried by Muller, et al [16]. It was mentioned before the time factor in increasing the thickness of masseter muscle and its activity after muscle adaptation, in addition to the type of implant-supported prostheses confirming a proper occlusion in the prostheses can contribute to a better muscle of mastication performance and long term activity.…”

“…The occlusal forces was observed within the T-scan III desktop , which is organized into four panes; the 3-dimensional column view (upper right pane; force levels illustrated by color-coding and column height), the 2-dimensional contour view (upper left pane; force levels illustrated by color-coding and occlusal surface location) that houses the COF trajectory, its red and white diamond-shaped icon, and the white/gray COF ellipse, (the ellipse is a target that assesses overall prosthesis force balance), the force versus time graph (lower left pane) and the zoom graph (lower right pane) ( Figure 2) [16]. Each patient was obtained a personal custom made bite sensor which can be fixed in the handle controller.…”

“…Kerstein, et al consider the T-scan III system to be a highly accurate technique to study and analyze the occlusal and articulation relations [16].…”

Influence of clinical remounting of complete dentures on occlusion and disocclusion times as indicators of occlusal balance: A computerised occlusal analysis

“…The system displays all this data into easily interpreted colour coded 2-D and 3-D graphics. 20,22 Reliability, sensibility and reproducibility of the T-scan III system has been reported by several researchers. 20, 21, 23 -26 According to Koos et al 20 , the system is reliable (97.2%) and considerably accurate (98%) for intra-oral use and everyday clinical practice with a measurement error of 1%.…”