Abstract
In this study, to clarify the present state of implant-supported prostheses produced in dental laboratories, we conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate dental technicians' establishment of occlusal contact in the intercuspal position.
We surveyed special dental technicians who had attended the educational lecture at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Kinki-Hokuriku Branch of the Japanese Society of Oral Implantology, and dental technicians who were in charge of laboratory work under dental implant specialists belonging to this society. Regarding 21 investigation items, we report the results obtained from 84 dental technicians, excluding the 9 cases who omitted some items of the questionnaire. This questionnaire investigation was performed after obtaining approval from the special dental technician committee of this society.
Regarding occlusal contact in crown-bridges and dentures, 36.9% of the dental technicians answered that the condition of occlusal contact is the same in both prostheses, i.e., occlusal contact is established in the same position, and 61.3% of these dental technicians answered that the size of the area of occlusal contact is also the same. On the other hand, 61.9% of them answered that the condition of occlusal contact is not the same in both prostheses, depending on the position, area, and timing of occlusal contact, and occlusal scheme and balance in each case.
Among the dental technicians, there were differences in the area in which they established occlusal contact in implant-supported prostheses. More than half of the dental technicians answered that the area in which occlusal contact was established was the inner incline of the functional cusp when the opposing teeth were implant-supported prostheses or natural teeth. There were 15 patterns of occlusal contact area when the opposing teeth were implant-supported prostheses, and 16 patterns when the opposing teeth were natural teeth. No frequent patterns exceeding the majority in number were present, and no fixed patterns were clearly noted.
It was revealed that dental technicians in charge of implant-supported prostheses devote a considerable amount of time in coping with many implant systems. On the other hand, they commonly described no items to which they pay attention regarding prosthetic appliances including implants, showing differences in their approaches toward prosthetic appliances. These results suggest there is an urgent need to establish common goals and criteria between dentists and dental technicians.
