ISSN : 0376-4672
As in all other parts in the body, oral tissue also undergoes dramatic changes with increasing age. Since these changes occasionally go beyond physiological scope, which may result in pathological changes, it is essential for dentist to understand changes caused by normal aging process. With increasing age, tooth morphology and occlusion also varies, especially loss of hard tissue, which is taking place in lifelong time, occurs as a result of tooth wear. When this loss of hard tissue is presented rapidly or excessively, functional and esthetical problems are raised, resulting in lowering quality of life of patient as well as making dental treatment for oral rehabilitation even more complex. Therefore, based on understanding of change in occlusion with increasing age, strategic approaches for maintenance of oral health in both functional and esthetic aspect are required as appropriate restoration and maintenance for progressive tooth wear enables desirable occlusal relationship. Carefully planned-restorative treatment in accordance with changed occlusal relationship is also required in the same context. Instead of taking changes in oral tissue as only a consequence of ageing, it is vital to educate patient and his or her guardian, assuring maintenance of oral hygiene and regular dental check-up are of utmost importance for improved oral health.
In an edentulous situation, the dentist must make several determinations when constructing artificial teeth. These include vertical and horizontal relationships of mandible with respect to the maxilla, occlusal form and position, vertical dimension, occlusal relationships during both centric closure and eccentric excursive movements. Artificial teeth are attached to a movable base resting on movable and displaceable living tissue subject to damage. They act as a unit; therefore, they must be arranged to function as a unit. Bilateral balanced occlusion is that stability of the denture is attained when bilateral contacts exist throughout all dynamic and static states of the denture during function. Lateral excursion in a balanced scheme implies simultaneous working side and nonworking side contact, while occlusal contacts are maintained on both anterior and posterior teeth as the mandible moves anteriorly into protrusion.
The methods for the occlusal force measurement have long been developed. The occlusal analyzing equipment utilizing the pressure-sensitive film (Prescale) is useful for the assessment and comparison among large group of patients. On the other hand, the apparatus which uses the grid-based sensor sheet (T-scan) can be a useful assistant for acquiring the well-balanced occlusion. The device that can process the electrical input from the strain gauge which is attached to the tooth surface can collect the dynamic data of actual masticatory force. This device has been developed for the measurement of actual mastication with the food bolus and it can be a useful method for the comparison before and after the restorative treatment. Occlusal force measurement can be applied for the analysis of therapeutic action, diagnosis of crack-tooth syndrome, temporomandibular disease, and idiopathic implant loosening.
This research compared stabilities between two types of dental implant (SLATM, Institut Straumann AG,Waldenburg, Switzerland and SSⅡTM, Osstem co, Busan, Korea) using Osstell Mentor (Integration Diagnostics AB, Goteborg,Sweden) considering surgery methods, surgery area, diameter of implant, systemic disease, and smoking for obtaining prognosis information when installing fixture of dental implant. Materials & Methods : 206 implants of 131 patients taken by resonance frequency analysis (RFA) were determined as a final sample. Dental implants were installed as protocol of supplier by a excellent dentist who had 10 years experience about dental implants. Before connecting abutments (3 months after installation of fixture), RFA were measured twice for buccal and lingual direction to obtain average value. Results : Dental implants at mandible showed significantly higher stabilities significantly than at maxilla (p<0.001). Diameter 4.8 implants had also higher stabilities than diameter 4.1 in case of SLATM implants (p<0.001). SLATM implants showed more excellent stabilities than SSⅡTM implants, especially at posterior area of mandible (p=0.045) and premolar area of maxilla (p=0.032). Conclusions : This research revealed higher stabilities of SLATM implants than SSⅡTM implant, especially at posterior area of mandible (p=0.045) and premolar area of maxilla (p=0.032).
