Effect of splinting on the viscoelasticity of periodontal tissue

Abstract

I studied whether splinting of healthy teeth affected the viscoelasticity of the periodontal tissue. Teeth were splinted either with each other or with tianium IMZ implants. The splinting device did not affect occlusal contacts and could be removed by the operator. Horizontal mechanical mobility of the individual teeth and implants was measured over a period of about two months with an automatic diagnostic system. I found that when the difference in tooth mobility between two teeth was large, this difference was decreased with splinting. There was a greater percentage change in the mechanical mobility of teeth that initially had smaller mobility than was the case for teeth that initially had greater mobility. However, the mechanical mobility of teeth did not decrease significantly after splinting with implants.