Electronic Articulator-Related Bite Registrations: Occlusal Precision and Adjustment Time Analysis

Objectives: The study aimed to compare the number of contacts and time consumption for occlusal adjustment of FPDs produced using electronic and non-electronic articulator-related bite registration. Material and methods: Single crowns, 3-unit FPDs and 4 and more unit FPDs were made to 77 patients randomly divided into two groups. In group A bite registrations were transferred by a face bow to articulator (Protar EVO 7, Kavo, Germany) set on average values, while in the group B electronic ultrasonic device (Arcus Digma II, Kavo, Germany) was used to record individual TMJ values. All registrations were done by one prosthodontic specialist and FPDs made by one dental technician. FPD try-in and occlusal adjustments were done randomly by two experienced dentists blinded from the study. The number of contacts per unit and time needed for occlusal adjustments were recorded and analyzed. Results: For single crowns and 3-unit FPDs there were no statistically significant differences between groups A and B (p>0.05). For the 4 and more unit FPDs with no intermaxillary distance change significant correlations were determined between the type of bite registration and number of contacts per unit (34% more in group B than in group A; r=0.71, p<0,05) as well as adjustment time, (21% less time consumption in group B; r=0.66, p<0.05). For the 4 and more unit FPDs with intermaxillary distance change the occlusal adjustment time was reduced 33% and the number of contacts per unit was 46% more in the group B compared to group A. Conclusions: The use of Arcus Digma II and individual articulator settings enable more accurate occlusal scheme design in multi-unit FPDs significantly increasing the number of contacts per unit while reducing the intraoral occlusal adjustment time, thus optimizing appointment time.