Meet our latest technology: the Tekscan® occlusal scanner

San Diego TMJ treatment

Dr. Carpenter is dedicated to using the latest technological advancements to improve the smiles and the lives of his patients. One of the exciting new developments in dentistry is a device called Tekscan. What is this piece of technology, and how can it help us to improve your smile?

Tekscan digital occlusal analysis

Tekscan is designed to check occlusion. This is the fit of your teeth to each other when you bite down. Ideally, there should be a good fit between the top and bottom teeth, so that all of the teeth touch together evenly. If there are any problems with occlusion, then undue force may be placed on one or more smaller areas when biting and chewing. This causes the teeth to wear unevenly and may lead to more serious problems like cracked teeth. It can also be a major contributor to problems like TMJ disorder (discomfort in the jaw joints). If there are dental restorations like crowns or implants, problems with occlusion may lead to failure of the restorations.

Until now, the only way to measure occlusion was for the dentist to physically examine the teeth. A special paper would be used; when the patient bites down on the paper, it changes color based on the force applied. This method is not very precise and doesn’t give the dentist all of the information necessary to treat problems with occlusion. 

Tekscan is able to get an accurate measure of occlusion using a digital scanner. The patient bites down on a sensor, and the scanner takes a short digital “movie” of the various surfaces of the teeth during the process. The scan shows both the points of greatest force on each tooth and the amount of force on those points. Additionally, the scan has a time component, so it allows the dentist to determine whether some parts of a tooth are touching before others. Studies have shown that it’s an effective way to detect problems with occlusion, and is able to identify very small areas of a tooth that may need to be addressed.

When is Tekscan used?

This new technology is useful in many different clinical settings, including:

• Placing dental implants. Occlusal testing ensures that there is not too much force on the implant, greatly increasing the odds of its long-term success.
• Protecting restorations, such as crowns and bridges. Using Tekscan allows the dentist to detect any areas where excessive force will be placed on the restoration and correct the problem before it leads to crown failure.
• Treating TMJ disorder. Problems with occlusion can sometimes lead to this condition, which causes discomfort in the jaw joints. Detecting and treating these issues can help TMJ patients to feel better.
• Fitting night guards. These devices are designed to protect teeth from damage due to grinding the teeth at night. Using the Tekscan allows Dr. Carpenter to detect any potential areas of concern and address these to ensure that the device functions well and doesn’t cause any problems.
• Protecting natural teeth. Detecting any problems with occlusion can allow Dr. Carpenter to address these before they lead to cracks or excessive wear to the affected teeth. We may use Tekscan during the initial comprehensive evaluation for a new patient, to determine whether there are any problems that will need to be addressed.

San Diego TMJ treatment

Dr. Carpenter is dedicated to using the latest technology to help his patients have the healthiest possible smiles. As a prosthodontist, he specializes in restorations for those who have lost teeth. Dr. Carpenter is currently taking new patients; if you’d like to take this opportunity to be cared for by one of San Diego’s premier dentists, please contact our office to schedule an appointment.