Occlusal Contact Evaluation Using Silicon Check Bite Material With an Occlusal Contact Analyzing Device

Objectives: Macroscopic assessment of occlusion is performed with a commercial occlusal contact analyzing device or light transmission using silicon check bite impression material. Most varieties of silicon check bite material are available on the market. However, it is unclear whether these commercial silicon check bite materials correctly show occlusal contact. We therefore assessed and examined occlusal contact with commercial silicon check bite materials using an occlusal contact analyzing device.
Methods: Analysis was performed using 12 different types of commercial silicon check bite material with an occlusal contact analyzing device (BiteEye BE-I, GC Corporation, Japan). Silicon check bite material mixed with a dispenser was placed on the mandibular dental arch of dental casts (Nissin, Japan), and then the maxillary cast was placed on top, over which a 3 kg was placed to allow the impression material to harden. The left and right side total of the occlusal contact area was then measured, starting with the maxillary surface. Each silicon check bite material was measured five times. Materials were compared to the specialty BiteEye silicon check bite material as the standard. Analysis of variance was performed to determine differences among check bite materials.
Results: Occlusal contact could not be measured in two of the 12 types of silicon check bite materials. Measurements varied significantly among silicon check bite materials, with some significantly higher and some significantly lower than the specialty BiteEye silicon check bite material.
Conclusions: Some types of silicon check bite material were not capable of properly showing occlusal contact. When using an occlusal contact analyzing device, it is therefore necessary to use the specified silicon check bite material or a silicon check bite material with measurements that are close to those of the specified material.