Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of changes of occlusal contacts on adjacent tooth displacement during articulation.
Materials and methods: The amount and direction of displacement of the maxillary left first molar and adjacent teeth were measured using a displacement transducer, Type M-3. Seven subjects were included in this study. On the maxillary left first molar, 8 experimental occlusal contact points were established using platinum foil and these were divided into 2 groups, the buccal and lingual groups, which corresponded to the buccal and lingual cusps, respectively.
Results: During clenching, the buccal group showed differences in the direction of the tooth displacement paths among the 3 teeth (second premolar, first and second molar), but there was no difference in the lingual group and the direction of displacement of these 3 teeth was similar to the natural teeth.
Conclusion: It is necessary to make at least one lingual occlusal contact point to obtain displacement of not only the abutment tooth but also the adjacent teeth.