The effect of occlusal contacts on adjacent tooth.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of changes of occlusal contacts on adjacent tooth displacement during articulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The amount and direction of displacement of the maxillary left first molar and adjacent teeth were measured using a displacement transducer, Type M-3. Seven subjects were included in this study. On the maxillary left first molar, 8 experimental occlusal contact points were established using platinum foil and these were divided into 2 groups, the buccal and lingual groups, which corresponded to the buccal and lingual cusps, respectively. RESULTS During clenching, the buccal group showed differences in the direction of the tooth displacement paths among the 3 teeth (second premolar, first and second molar), but there was no difference in the lingual group and the direction of displacement of these 3 teeth was similar to the natural teeth. CONCLUSION It is necessary to make at least one lingual occlusal contact point to obtain displacement of not only the abutment tooth but also the adjacent teeth.