Research Summary abstract
British Dental Journal 192, 391 (2002)
Published online: 13 April 2002 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4801382
Research Summary:
Materials for reliable interocclusal measurements
Daryll Jagger, Dr1
- A new alternative interocclusal recording method using impression material reinforced by a stabilising tray has been compared to conventional methods in three clinical cases.
- There were no significant differences between the methods because clinical factors and clinical variation rather than recording materials or mandibular positions determined the range of the positions of the mounted casts.
- The new interocclusal recording method ie a combination of impression material/stabilising tray in most cases can replace record rims and the number of appointments therefore can be reduced.
Abstract
Objective The reproducibility of clinical records of the occlusion was assessed in three dimensions using mounted casts. Three distinct areas were examined: 1) mandibular positions (intercuspal position (IP) or retruded contact position (RCP)), 2) materials used in recording the occlusion, 3) clinical variation.
Design Interocclusal records were made in a random order of three patients: one fixed prosthodontics case, one removable partial denture case and one complete denture case, with two different types of waxes, record rims, two different brands of vinyl polysiloxanes and one irreversible hydrocolloid.
Setting and Subjects Private practice and Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden. One general dental practitioner and three voluntary patients.
Results Point estimation of variance components indicate that 70–93% of the variation of the positions of the mounted casts are caused by: 1) clinical variation for all three cases and in three directions, 2) the influence of recording materials 0–29%, and 3) mandibular positions (IP/RCP) 0–11%. The ranges of the positions of the mounted casts were lower for the dentate case (0.04–1.39 mm) than for the partially dentate case (0.17–2.65 mm), which in turn was lower than those for the edentulous case (1.42–5.59 mm).
Conclusion Clinical variation seems to dominate the variation in positions of mounting casts when making interocclusal records, rather than mandibular position or the recording materials used. Therefore a dentist who makes one single interocclusal record cannot presume that it will reproduce the interocclusal relationship intended, which in the present study was most obvious for the edentulous case. The results showed that impression materials stabilised by a tray did not differ significantly from waxes and record rims concerning the reproducibility. Therefore the stabilised impression materials are an alternative, which also give additional advantages like reduction of appointments as well as superior accuracy.
- Senior Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry Bristol Dental Hospital and School
