THE CORRELATION OF BITE FORCE IN MAXIMAL INTERCUSPAL POSITION BETWEEN PATIENT’S PERCEPTIONS AND T-SCAN III SYSTEM: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

The examination of occlusion is traditionally determined by patient’s perceptions and clinician subjective interpretation using articulating paper, shimstock foil, or occlusal indicator wax. However, the results of these conventional techniques are quite inconsistency due to the physical properties of the material. To overcome this issue, digital occlusal indicators (e.g. T-Scan III system) have been increasingly suggested. This study aimed to find the correlation of bite force in maximal intercuspal position (MIP) between patient’s perceptions and T-Scan III system. Fifteen subjects were participated in this study. They were asked to bilaterally clench their teeth at MIP with Frankfurt horizontal plane paralleled to the horizontal plane. The bite force was evaluated by themselves and T-scan III analysis. Data were analyzed using Cohen’s Weighted Kappa test. The results demonstrated that 6 subjects (40% of total subjects) perceived equally bite force on left and right sides, and this perception was coincided with that of T-Scan III analysis when the equal relative bite force (%) of T-Scan III between left and right sides was determined at ± 15.0% (35.0-65.0%) or ± 20.0% (30.0-70.0%). The least agreement (3 subjects, 20% of total subjects) between patient’s perception and T-Scan III analysis was observed when the equal relative bite force of T-Scan III was set at ± 5.0% (45.0-55.0%). Cohen’s Weighted Kappa showed the poor and slightly agreement correlation between patient’s perceptions and T-Scan III analysis when the cut off value of relative bite force of T-Scan III was not more than ± 10.0 and ± 15.0, respectively.