Photo courtesy of Tekscan Inc.

4 MEASURE OCCLUSION

Tekscan Inc.
T-Scan III computerized occlusal analysis system

The most mysterious condition that dentists are called upon to diagnose is TMJ function. We place our fingers over the joints. We palpate the muscles. We listen carefully for pops, clicks, or crepitus. And then we make a guess about what it all means.

Well-trained and experienced clinicians can make pretty good, well-informed guesses. However, the interpretation of the symptoms is still completely subjective.

For example, dentists diagnose how teeth occlude with articulating paper. Unfortunately, with articulating marks there is no scientific correlation between the depth of the color of the mark, or the size of the mark, and the amount of biting force. Also, there is no way to determine which point contacted first or the contact timing sequence of any of the marks.

Once again, though, digital technology can help, as illustrated by the T-Scan III Occlusal Analysis system from Tekscan Inc. (tekscan.com). The T-Scan system takes the place of articulating paper using digital sensors to quickly and precisely determine the amount of force within a given mark. The system’s software displays both the force and the timing of each contact so that premature contacts are easy to find. It is no longer necessary for the dentist to try and guess which blue dot is too hard and which one is just right.

	Photo courtesy of Bio-Research Inc

Other high-tech tools for evaluating TMJ function include the following two devices from Bio-Research Inc. (bioresearchinc.com):

JVA (Joint Vibration Analysis) device. The JVA system (also called the Bio-JVA system) is simply a pair of pressure sensors placed over the TMJ to record vibrations. The result is an exact recording of vibration, amplitude, and frequency as well as exactly where in the opening cycle the vibration occurs.

Different TMJ disorders produce different vibration patterns or “signatures.” Digital vibration analysis helps identify these patterns and helps the dentist distinguish among various TMJ disorders.

JT (Jaw Tracker)-3D device. The JT-3D device is an array that measures the movements of the mandible through space. This allows the user to record maximal openings, freeway space, speed of opening, and much more.