Evaluating the Impact of Occlusal Adjustment on Post-Orthodontic Outcomes: Insights from T-Scan III Analysis.

Abstract

Background: Occlusal changing, spacing, and tooth movement are common problems caused by premature contact after orthodontic treatment. Occlusal adjustment has been suggested to help stabilize orthodontic treatment. T-Scan III system is a rapid and accurate diagnostic tool for digital occlusal analysis in different fields of dentistry, particularly in orthodontics.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of occlusal adjustment on post-orthodontic occlusal parameters using the T-Scan III system, focusing on force distribution and occlusal contact dynamics.

Materials and method: This interventional randomized controlled trial included 30 patients (17 females and 13 males) aged 17-28 years with Class I malocclusion and severe crowding. The patients were divided into intervention and control groups. All patients under-went fixed orthodontic treatment with the extraction of the first four premolars. The intervention group received occlusal adjustments one month after debonding, while the control group received no intervention. Occlusal relationships were recorded at debonding (T0), one month (T1), and six months (T2) post-debonding using the T-Scan III system. The analyzed key parameters included the occlusal contact intensity, number, and distribution. Independent and paired t-tests, the Mann-Whitney test, the Chi-square test, and the Wilcoxon statistic were used. The significance level for statistical tests was set at p Value< 0.05.

Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in occlusal force intensity or number of contacts at T1 and T2. However, these trends suggest an improved posterior force distribution in the intervention group, highlighting the clinical benefits of the occlusal adjustment.

Conclusion: Although not statistically significant, the results suggest that occlusal adjustments supported by T-Scan III analysis may enhance occlusal stability and force distribution after orthodontic treatment. Future studies with larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods are recommended to validate these findings.