Association of Trauma from Occlusion with Demographic Factors, Occlusal Scheme and Types of Dental Prostheses: A Clinical Study

Objective: To determine the frequency of primary and secondary trauma from occlusion, most common signs and symptoms and their association of primary and secondary trauma with demographic factors like age, gender, occlusal scheme and type of dental prosthesis. Methodology: A total of 150 patients with age ranged from 20 to 70 years were recruited. A thorough clinical examination was performed to assess signs and symptoms of trauma from occlusion like tooth mobility, Temporomandibular joint pain, wearing facets and periodontal pocketing. Tooth mobility was assessed using a dental explorer or a periodontal probe. Tooth mobility was graded according to the Miller's classification. Periodontal examination i.e., probing depth, clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing were assessed. Occlusal examination was performed and occlusal contacts were evaluated for premature contacts or interferences, type of occlusal guidance i.e., canine guidance or group function noted. Results: Primary trauma from occlusion was found to be 70.7% and secondary trauma from occlusion was 29.3%. Frequently noted parafunctional habit was lip/pen chewing 28.7%. The association of age and gender with primary/secondary trauma from occlusion was found to be insignificant. Primary trauma from occlusion was 95.7% in canine guided occlusion whereas secondary trauma from occlusion was 70.2% in group function occlusion. Association of type of occlusal scheme with primary and secondary trauma from occlusion was statistically significant. Patients with fixed prosthesis had more of primary trauma and with removable partial dentures had secondary trauma from occlusion. The association of type of dental prosthesis with the type of trauma from occlusion was statistically significant. Conclusion: It was concluded that the primary trauma from occlusion was more frequent than secondary trauma, with lip and pen chewing being the most common parafunctional habit. Patients with fixed prostheses had a higher frequency of primary trauma whereas those with removable prostheses had more secondary trauma.