Annals and Essences of Dentistry
Open Access

Abstract

A CLINICAL STUDY TO EVALUATE TOOTH CONTACT PATTERNS AND CORRELATION WITH MASTICATORY EFFICIENCY IN DENTULOUS SUBJECTS

Laxman Rao.P, Mahesh Verma, Hari Parkash

A variety of functional tooth contact patterns exist in population of young adult patients.The purpose of the present study is to find the relationship between different lateral tooth contact patterns and dental morphology and their effect on masticatory efficiency. Forty young dentulous subjects were selected and their impression with irreversible hydrocolloid was made. Polyvinyl silicone bite registration paste was used to record lateral tooth contact patterns in functional range of mandibular movement. Overjet and overbite including mesiodistal relation of tooth recoded with cast secured in the intercuspal position and masticatory efficiency was determined by calorimetric method by using raw carrot. Among all subjects 15% having canine protection, 55% group function, and 30% balance occlusion. There is positive correlation between age and masticatory efficiency [r=+0.656, p<.01] and negative correlation between overjet and masticatory efficiency [r=-0.409, p<0.01]. In the present study Canine protection occlusion had significantly lower mean masticatory efficiency than group function and balanced occlusion group. This signifies that the masticatory efficiency is dependent on lateral tooth contact patterns.

Published Date: 2010-12-31;