J Korean Acad Prosthodont.  2023 Jul;61(3):198-203. 10.4047/jkap.2023.61.3.198.

Evaluation of the proximal contact and comparison of methods for measuring in normal dentition

• Kim JE
• Lee CH

• KMID: 2544973
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4047/jkap.2023.61.3.198

Abstract

Purpose
The aim of this study was to evaluate the proximal contact with a dental floss compared to a celluloid strip and a metal strip in normal dental arch and investigate what the most effective method for measuring is.
Materials and methods
The subjects of this study was consisted with 20 healthy adults (10 males and 10 females) who had normal dentition. A dentist with more than 5 years of clinical experience evaluated the proximal contacts using a dental floss method, a celluloid strip method, and a metal strip method. Statistical analysis were performed by the use of Mann-Whitney U test. A P-value < .05 was considered statistically significant in all analysis. In addition, in the evaluation of proximal contact using a dental floss, the measurement of proximal contact using a celluloid strip and a metal strip was compared.
Results
80 % of all proximal contact was proper. Proper proximal contact was observed at the posterior area compared to the anterior area (P < .05). And male had proper proximal contact at the anterior area, female had proper proximal contact at the posterior area (P < .05). The consistency analysis between the results of the celluloid strip and the metal strip experiment on the results obtained from the floss using the consistency scale Kappa index shows that using celluloid strip is more advantageous than using the metal strip.
Conclusion
Only 80% of all proximal contact was proper. Using celluloid strips with various thickness for evaluating of proximal contact is considered to be helpful for accurate measuring of proximal contact.

Keyword

Celluloid strip; Dental floss; Metal strip; Proximal contact