Comparison of a conventional and virtual occlusal record.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Conventional methods associated with many processes in dentistry are being replaced by methods that use digital technology. One of these processes is the making of occlusal records for the positioning of casts in a virtual articulator. Conventional interocclusal records and the articulator are being replaced by the virtual occlusal record and the virtual articulator.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to validate a virtual procedure to locate the mandibular cast in a 3-dimensional (3D) spatial position and to verify the occlusal contact points in reference to the corresponding maxillary cast on a virtual articulator.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The conventional procedure was carried out by locating 6 sets of casts in maximal intercuspal position without any interocclusal record. Then, the occlusal contacts were determined with articulating paper. Subsequently, the occlusal relationships and stone cast were digitized with a 3D scanner. The occlusal contacts were compared with photographs and by superimposing these on screenshots of the software. Finally, the deviation of discrete points on the mandibular cast was calculated, and all the points of the occlusal surface were compared point by point.

RESULTS

This study analyzed the main variables of the virtual occlusal record by using 3 current reverse engineering software packages. The results show a mean deviation of 0.069 mm from the virtual occlusion procedure and a mean standard deviation of 0.011 mm from all the points of the occlusal surface.

CONCLUSIONS

The main conclusion of this study was that the accuracy provided by a virtual occlusion procedure is greater than that of the traditional physical interocclusal record. Additionally, knowing the deviation of each alignment (best-fit operation or algorithm) is useful.