• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2006

While orofacial pain or various dental factors are generally considered as the primary cause of unilateral chewing tendency, there exist several studies indicating that dental factors did not affect the preferred chewing side. The aim of this study was to examine difference of occlusal scheme between the subjects with and without chewing side preference. The difference between the chewing and non-chewing sides in the unilateral chewing group was investigated as well. Computerized, T-Scan II system was used for occlusal analysis. 20 subjects for the unilateral chewing group (mean age of $25.25{\pm}2.84$ years) and 20 subjects for the bilateral chewing group (mean age of $27.00{\pm}5.07$ years) were selected by a questionnaire on presence or absence of chewing side preference and those with occlusal problem or pain and/or dysfunction of jaw were excluded. T-Scan recordings were obtained during maximum intercuspation and excursion movement. The number of contact points, relative occlusal force ratio between right and left sides, tooth sliding area and elapsed time throughout the maximum intercuspation were calculated. Elapsed time for excursion was also investigated. The results of this study shows that the unilateral chewing group had the smaller average tooth contact areas compared with those of the bilateral group (p<0.005). In the unilateral chewing group, the contact areas of non-chewing side are smaller than those of chewing side (p<0.005). The contact areas on their preferred sides were not significantly different with those of right or left side of the subjects without chewing side preference. There was no significant difference in the elapsed time during maximum intercuspation and lateral excursion, the sliding areas and relative of right-to-left occlusal force ratio between the two groups. From the results of this study, it is likely that individuals prefer chewing on the side with more contact areas for efficient chewing.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 2007

Correlation between occlusal contact pattern and TMD have been hypothesized and partially investigated but results are controversial and not conclusive. The purposes of this study were to compare right-to-left difference of occlusal contact pattern, through contact points, contact force and occlusal balance, in the patients with unilateral TMD and also to evaluate its change related with TMD treatment. 36 patients with unilateral TMD from Department of Oral Medicine in Dankook University Dental Hospital were selected in this study (M:F=7:29, mean age of $29.2{\pm}14.8$ years). A computerized T-Scan II system (Tekscan, INC., USA) was employed for occlusal analysis and the simultaneity and occlusal balance through the number of tooth contact and magnitude of contact force were determined before and after TMD treatment. The number of contact points and contact force was more on the unaffected side than the affected side before treatment (p=0.056 and p=0.060, respectively) while significant difference between both sides was not found after treatment. The number of contact points and contact force on the affected sides significantly increased after treatment (p=0.038 and p=0.052), but the unaffected sides exhibited no significant difference between before and after treatment. In addition, sides difference in relative contact force decreased from about 27% to about 12% after TMD treatment (p=0.001). According to the results of this study, it is likely that unilateral TMD impairs right-to-left occlusal balance and that conservative TMD treatment alleviates the imbalance, subsequently leading to more symmetrical occlusal condition with increased contact points and force.