2003 Volume 9 Issue 2 Pages 191-195
In order to investigate the reliability of the occlusal force displayed on the dental prescale system, 5 different magnitudes of pressure were applied on the dental prescale and the displayed colored area and the occlusal forces displayed on the dental prescale system were analyzed.
Two types of pressurizer, pressurizer A, a column with a square surface of a side of 1 mm and a surface area of 1 mm2, and pressurizer B, a column with a circular surface area of 1 mm2 were attached to the pressure device. Then for each type of pressurizer 5 different magnitudes of forces, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100N were applied onto the dental prescale. For analysis the colored surface area created by the two pressurizers were calculated and compared among the pressurizing forces. Then the occlusal forces recorded on the dental prescale were measured by the Occluser (FPD703, Fuji film) and the relationship between occlusal forces and pressurizing forces was investigated for both pressurizer A and B. Also the occlusal force obtained under the application of each pressure was compared between the two pressurizers.
When pressures of 20 to 100N were applied each colored area on the dental prescale showed the shape of the pressurizer. Every surface area was close to 1 mm2 and no significant difference was found between the pressurizing forces (F=1.306, p>0.05) . The occlusal forces displayed on the dental prescale system for both pressurizer A and B increased as the pressurizing force increased and a significantly positive correlation was statistically found between the two (pressurizer A; r=0.991, p<0.01, pressurizer B; r=0.990, p<0.01) . The occlusal forces displayed on the dental prescale system for both pressurizers A and B had similar values and no significant difference was found between the two. Also the occlusal forces showed on the dental prescale system for pressurizers A and B were close to the theoretical values for pressures between 20N and 80N and was smaller than the theoretical value for 100N.
From these results it was concluded that the dental prescale system can measure the occlusal forces within the range of pressure 20 to 80N exclusive of 100N with high accuracy.
