Tools for Evaluating Dental Occlusion

In my last blog post, I described the use of the T-scan in our office to cure the Princess and the Pea an extremely occlusally aware patient that confounded us with her lack of satisfaction after reconstruction. We found the system equally valuable on the two subsequent patients that we analyzed that day.

Patient number two has an incredibly strong buccinator and orbicularis oris muscles.  In addition he is heavy salivator, and we had real difficulty keeping the teeth dry. By evaluating his occlusion with T-scan sensor we were able to detect on the computer screen exactly where we needed to adjust even when the teeth were wet and would not mark well with the articulating paper. It was an invaluable help with this equilibration which I had dreaded on this challenging patient.

Patient number three was a female who was new to the practice and had not accepted her proposed treatment plan of an occlusal equilibration and followed by restorative work. By allowing her to see on the computer screen how uneven her bite was, she was able to understand the benefit of the equilibration preceding the dental treatment. She agreed to have the equilibration done the same day and we were able to complete it with incredible precision.

It was easy to see from these experiences how the T-scan could benefit our patients and take our dentistry to a higher level.  I can say with confidence that it can improve the care we deliver, assist in educating patients, increase our productivity, and even increase implant and restorative longevity.  The question I have to ask myself as I ponder investing in this technology is perhaps not Can I afford to do it? but Can I afford not to do it?

Read Part 1 to this series on Evaluating Dental Occlusion using the T-Scan.