J Korean Acad Prosthodont.  2008 Dec;46(6):553-560.

Evaluation of tightness of proximal tooth contact in permanent dentition

• Kim KH
• Jung JH
• Kim HJ
• Chung CH
• Oh SH

Abstract

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Proximal contact plays an important role in the stability and maintenance of the integrity of the dental arches. However, it is difficult to evaluate quantitatively the tightness of proximal tooth contact (TPTC). PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to measure the TPTC in permanent dentition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten young adult volunteers with healthy dentition participated in this experiment. The TPTC between the teeth of both the maxilla and the mandible was measured at rest state by a novel device which records the TPTC by pulling of a stainless steel strip (0.03 mm thick) using the electric motor. One-way ANOVA test was used to compare the values in all measured area. When a statistically significant difference was calculated, Bonferroni correction was applied. Independent samples t-test was used to compare the values in male and female.
RESULTS
The lowest TPTC and the highest TPTC was measured between the lower central incisors (0.87 +/- 0.20 N), and between the lower left first molar and second molar (1.99 +/- 0.68 N), respectively. All TPTC per quadrant demonstrated a similar pattern of a continuous increased gradient in an anterior-posterior direction. There are no significant difference between the maxilla and mandible.
CONCLUSION
The TPTC was measured quantitatively by a novel device and decreased progressively in a posterior-anterior direction.

Keyword

Proximal contact; Frictional force; Dentition

MeSH Terms

Dental Arch
Dentition
Dentition, Permanent
Female
Humans
Incisor
Male
Mandible
Maxilla
Molar
Stainless Steel
Tooth
Young Adult
Stainless Steel

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Diagram of the measuring system.

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  Fig. 2. Measurement of the tightness of proximal tooth contact between the left first molar and second molar in mandible.

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  Fig. 3. Comparison of the proximal contact tightness between anterior teeth (A: from mesial contact area of central incisor to mesial contact area of canine) and posterior teeth (P: from distal contact area of canine to mesial contact area of second molar). (∗P < .05, Independent samples t - test)

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