Patterns and forces of occlusal contacts during lateral excursions recorded by the T-Scan II system in young Chinese adults with normal occlusions

The objective was to characterise the patterns and forces of occlusal contacts during lateral mandibular excursions in a young Chinese adult population. Angle Class I normal occlusions in 85 dental students aged 20'29 were evaluated using the T-Scan II occlusal imaging and analysis system. The frequency of occlusal contacts was recorded for right and left lateral excursions at the position of lateral disclusion, at the canine-to-canine position and at the lateral maximal position. At the canineto- canine position, the occlusal contact patterns were classified, and the relative forces were compared by multiple regression analysis, with a = 0Æ05. At the position of lateral disclusion, a high percentage of canine contacts (58Æ5%) and individual posterior tooth contacts on the working side was observed. At the canine-to-canine position, the canines on the working side contacted most frequently (68Æ9%), and the occlusal contact patterns could be classified into six groups. At the lateral maximal position, incisors (39Æ0%) and canines (32Æ3%) contacted most frequently. At the canineto- canine position, subjects with occlusal contacts only on canines or on first premolars on the working side had the lowest relative occlusal forces (P < 0Æ001). Canine protection and group function do not identify all descriptors for lateral occlusal contact patterns in the natural dentition. Six occlusal contact patterns were