Evaluation of the clinical performance of different occlusal device materials

• Published in: The Journal of prosthetic dentistry 2024-05
• Main Authors: Pecenek, Duygucan, Gokcen-Rohlig, Bilge, Ongul, Deger, Ayvalioglu, Demet Cagıl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-3913; 1097-6841
• DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.04.021

Computer aided technologies have been used to fabricate occlusal devices. However, the clinical behavior of the newly developed materials developed for occlusal devices is unknown. The purpose of this prospective, double-blind study was to assess the clinical efficacy of recently introduced computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) materials for the fabrication of occlusal devices. A total of 24 participants were divided randomly into 2 study groups; polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and a control group (CG). Conventional impressions and gypsum casts were obtained from all participants. In the study groups, the casts were digitalized with an extraoral digital scanner, designed with a software program (Bite Occlusal Device Module; exocad GmbH) and milled from PEEK and PMMA blocks. Clear resin sheets were used for occlusal device fabrication in the CG. The baseline measurements were made during the initial appointments. After 6 months, the participants returned for follow-up evaluations. Clinical performance based on surface roughness, wear of the antagonist teeth, occlusal device fit and therapeutic effect, as well as participant satisfaction were compared using the 1-way ANOVA test between the main groups (α=.05). The post hoc and Kruskal Wallis-H tests were used to compare the nonparametric group. The therapeutic effects of the occlusal devices did not differ. All participants showed improvement in palpation and mandibular movement scores, but no statistically significant differences were found among the groups (P>.05). PEEK and PMMA had statistically less surface wear than CG (P.05). The control group had the best fit (P