Abstract
The purpose of this study is to measure transmitted interproximal forces and to evaluate the contact relationships. Firstly, the development of a new measuring evice for forces between interproximal surfaces of teeth was aimed. Secondly, transmitted interproximal forces at the midline of maxilla were measured, employing the measuring device, when experimental separations were applied to interproximal areas between the central and the lateral incisor, between the lateral incisor and the cuspid, and between the cuspid and the bicuspid, respectively.
The following results were obtained:
1) The force transducer which was made by using piezo plastic film was very thin, and its thickness was 60 μm.
2) When the experimental separations were applied, the magnitude of transmitted interproximal forces increased. As the amount of separations increased, the magnitude of transmitted interproximal forces more increased.
3) Splinting a few teeth in the anterior segment increased the magnitude of the transmitted interproximal forces when the same amount of separations was applied.
From this study, it is suggested that the entire arch, consisting of all the teeth, may move in such a way that all teeth perform as a unit in a functioning whole.
