Occlusal analysis is the examination and diagnosis of the forces generated by the contacting surfaces of teeth. The clinician can use both mounted diagnostic casts and the T-Scan Occlusal Analysis system to understand the role of adverse forces in a patient's dentition. These casts should be mounted in Centric Relation so that they replicate the patient's hinge axis maxillomandibular relationship, absent of tooth contact. Diagnostic casts can demonstrate the mandibular slide into maximum intercuspation, as well as illustrate the excursive contacts. The T-Scan not only records the location of tooth contacts present in Centric Relation, maximum intercuspation, and lateral excursions, but also detects the timing and relative force of all contacts. The rapid display of recorded tooth contact data in the 2- and 3-Dimensional ForceViews makes it practical for intraoral operative use. These modalities can be used separately or in concert depending on the clinical situation. This chapter discusses the clinical technique, advantages, and rationale for identifying Centric Relation prematurities with mounted diagnostic casts and the T-Scan.
Hinge axis - location, clinical use and controversies
