Analysis of occlusal contacts in different types of prosthodontic appliances, Eichner classifications, presence RCP-ICP slide and the type of occlusion

The aim of the study was to determine the number and the type of the occlus al contacts (strong, weak) with respect to the type of the prosthodontic ap pliance (fixed, removable, combined fixed-removable) and with respect to th e Eichner classification in patients with their appliances being in a good function for a long time. The aim of the study was also to determine the nu mber and the type of the occlusal contacts (strong, weak) with respect to t he type of occlusion (canine guided group function or balanced) and the pre sence of the RCP-ICP slide. A total of 440 patients with different types of prosthodontic appliances were examined for the antagonistic occlusal conta cts using occlusal strips of 11 mum and 50 mum. The average number of occlu sal contacts was 10.5 for the upper and 10.46 for the lower posterior teeth , approximately 5 on each side of the tooth arch. The results of the study suggest that the biggest number of occlusal contacts were recorded for the small span fixed appliances (2 on average), the greater span fixed and fixe d-removable prosthodontic appliances exhibited 1.6 occlusal contacts, and t he removable complete denture exhibited 1.2 contact per the tooth in the po sterior region. The number of the hard occlusal contacts was significantly greater in fixed and fixed-removable prosthodontic appliances in comparison with the complete dentures (p < 0.05), while there was no significant diff erence between the prosthodontic appliances for the weak occlusal contacts (p < 0.05). The overall number of the occlusal contacts, as well as the num ber of the hard occlusal contacts was significantly greater in the Eichner class IT cases (p < 0.05) in comparison with the Eichner classes II and III . The number of the weak occlusal contacts showed no significant difference s with respect to the Eichner classification (p > 0.05). There was no signi ficant difference in the number of occlusal contacts between the appliances with RCP-ICP slide and where ICP and RCP corresponded (p > 0.05).