Correlates and Comparability of two Bite/Occlusal Force Measuring Devices

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the bite/occlusal force measurements obtained through two methods: a hydraulic pressure gauge with a biting transducer (GM-10), and a computer-assisted device that records occlusal force on a pressure-sensitive film (Prescale-II).
Methods: The ethics committee (KEK-Zurich) decisioned that this study did not require a formal approval (BASEC-Nr.Req-2023-00164). Healthy, dentate volunteers were recruited. Participants’ demographic data including age, sex, number of teeth present, presence of any oral pain, history of prior orthodontic treatment, presence of any parafunction, overjet, and overbite measurements, were collected. Bite/occlusal force measurements were recorded for each participant using the GM-10 and the Prescale-II devices. Linear Mixed-effect model regression was performed with the significance set at p<0.05.
Results: Forty-six volunteers (women=25, men=21; mean-age=30.9±9.3 years) participated. 54.3% and 34.8% presented with 28 and 29-32 teeth, respectively. 60.9% and 26.1% of the participants reported of previous orthodontic treatment and oral parafunction. Mean overjet and overbite recorded were 2.0±1.1, and 2.1±1.8, respectively. The overall mean GM-10 measurements recorded were 233.0±192, 276±167, 208±134, 142±103 Newtons, for the 2^nd and 1^st molars, 2^nd and 1^st premolars, respectively. GM-10 measurements were associated with the tooth position (p<0.001) and the number of teeth (p<0.001).
The mean Prescale-II measurements obtained with and without filter were 826±594 and 1049±595, respectively, which were positively correlated with the occlusal contact area (r=0.765; p<0.001), and GM-10 (r=0.245; p=0.019). The regression analysis for dependent repeated-data confirmed the significant effect of the GM-10 measurements (bite force) and the occlusal contact area on the Prescale-II measurements.
Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it may be concluded that there was a low correlation between GM-10 and Dental Prescale II, suggesting that bite force is one of the parameters that influence the occlusal force. Further studies are necessary to provide new parameters on the comparability of the two methods.