According to Dentistry Today, "Occlusion is one of the most controversial subjects in dentistry and also one of the most important." Unfortunately, a lack of comprehensive occlusal education in many dental schools contributes to a widening void in our knowledge of the subject. The consequences of malocclusion are adverse. Failing to address occlusion can not only lead to serious oral health complications for the patient, but it can also become a drain on your practice in terms of costly repeat visits and remakes.

Of those who do measure occlusion, a majority turn to products like AccuFilm, Occlude, Shimstock, etc. However, all of these methods rely on the subjective interpretation of the operator. And while subjective interpretation may be appropriate for an art museum, it certainly isn't ideal in a dental office. Granted, articulating paper may be able to show points of contact between teeth, but it alone cannot provide insight into two of the most important aspects of occlusion: the level of force and timing of teeth coming together. A digital dental prescale system is just digital articulating paper, and doesn't give you bite force and timing.

To develop a more confident, proactive approach to patient care when it comes to occlusion, adopting an objective occlusal assessment system, like T-Scan™, is essential. The T-Scan is dentistry's only digital occlusal analysis system that measures the level of force and timing of the bite coming together as part of overall dental evaluations. Using T-Scan as an occlusal analysis method leads to a more informed level of care and assists you in performing precise adjustments.

Additionally, when patients can see a visual representation of their bite, they are more likely to relate to what is really going on inside the mouth. Having this visual aid for patients is a great way to educate them and gain acceptance of your treatment plan. Dr. James Downs, DMD, is a long-time user of T-Scan and couldn’t agree more:

Dr. James Downs, DMD"Patients have been impacted the most [by the use of T-Scan] in my practice. They get it, and they love it! When they see their bite data on the screen, they understand because they correlate the forces on the screen to what they feel in their mouths. They see T-Scan in our practice and ask, 'how come other dentists don't have this?' And my answer is that we make an effort to continuously evolve and improve the practice."

With a focus on Cosmetics, Reconstruction and TMD, Dr. Ben Sutter, DMD, FAGD, FICCMO, LVIF, routinely uses T-Scan to take care of balance of force and bite timing issues. Already known as the "bite guy" in his area, Dr. Sutter believes the patient loyalty he inspires through the use of T-Scan makes a direct, positive impact on ROI.

Dr. Ben Sutter, DMD, FAGD, FICCMO, LVIF

"Patient loyalty is huge when you can see (and diagnose) things other doctors can’t, because they do not employ the technology. Not to mention patients are demanding more from their health care providers. They are doing their research and I have gained patients by just having the technology."

T-Scan boosts patient confidence in dentists' ability to go beyond simply "guessing" at occlusion. The objective, digital occlusal data collected with the tool keeps dentists informed about occlusal discrepancies and allows them to treat with greater accuracy.

Dr. Scott Keith, DDST-Scan user Dr. Scott Keith, DDS, notes that, "before T-Scan, we were seeing breakage. Those early experiences made us a believer in T-Scan. No one wants to have an unhappy patient come walking into the practice in the middle of a busy day. We have to find time to deal with these types of repairs whether it's teeth popping off, whether it's acrylic resin fracture. T-Scan is just as much a finishing tool as it is a prevention tool."

Dentists around the world use T-Scan in their offices for a variety of applications including initial comprehensive exams, splint/orthotic therapy, implants, dentures, full mouth restorations and more. Dr. Curtis Westersund, DDS, uses T-Scan every day in patient diagnosis, in treatment planning, in functional rebalance of the occlusion, and in the rebalance of his dental orthotics used in TMD therapy.

Dr. Curtis Westersund, DDS

"It is so easy to pull out and use that it makes me wonder how I ever worked without one. It's not only another tool in my toolbox; it makes the existing tools better and more effective," said Dr. Westersund. "The best thing about T-Scan is that it fits into every dental practice. It's a tool that my Hygiene team uses every day, that I use every day, and my treatment coordinator uses every day. It's clear, concise, easy-to-use technology that makes a difference. I'm a happy T-Scan owner."

You can be too. Whether eliminating destructive forces on a new restoration, or performing an overall occlusal analysis and adjustment procedure, T-Scan is an invaluable tool to help you balance your patients' occlusions.

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