Digital assessment of occlusal wear patterns on occlusal stabilization splints: a pilot study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

If masticatory load distribution is task-dependent, then the pattern of wear on an acrylic resin occlusal splint over time may affect clinical outcome.

PURPOSE

This pilot study quantitatively assessed posterior wear after 3 months on the occlusal surfaces of maxillary stabilization splints.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Subjects with known history of nocturnal bruxism were given heat-cured full-arch acrylic resin occlusal stabilization splints to be worn nocturnally for 3 months. Splint occlusion was adjusted at appliance delivery and was refined at the baseline session 1 to 2 weeks later. No further adjustment of the splint surface was performed during the 3-month study period. Sequential impressions of the splint occlusal surface provided epoxy resin models that were digitized and analyzed through specialized software. Changes in the digitized splint surface from baseline to 3 months allowed comparison of wear facets between splint sides and among tooth locations.

RESULTS

Splint wear was asymmetric between sides and uneven between dental locations.

CONCLUSIONS

For full coverage occlusal splints, the appliance wear phenomenon can be site specific and, if left undisturbed, may yield two extremes of high wear and a zone of low wear in-between.