Next Article in Journal
Assessment of Equilibrium Path Sensitivity in Truss Domes Vulnerable to Node Snap-Through with Respect to Load Distribution
Previous Article in Journal
Limited Short-Term Reliability of Key Joint Angles in Biomechanical Running Gait Analyses
Previous Article in Special Issue
Effects on Condylar Position of Head Flexion Typically Induced by the Use of Portable Electronic Devices: An Observational Study
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Applied Sciences
Volume 16
Issue 1
10.3390/app16010132
applsci-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Comparison of Digital and Traditional Methods for Occlusal Contact Assessment: An Experimental Cross-Sectional Study

by
Luca Levrini
1,
Alessandro Deppieri
2,
Andrea Ugas
2,
Piero Antonio Zecca
3,
Salvatore Bocchieri
4,
Stefano Saran
2,
Nicola Giannotta
2,
Alessandro Manelli
3,
Paolo Broido
5 and
Andrea Carganico
6,*
1
Department of Human Science and Innovation for the Territory, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
2
School of Medicine, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
3
Department of Medicine and Innovative Technologies, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
4
Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
5
Independent Researcher, 21016 Luino, Italy
6
Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(1), 132; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16010132
Submission received: 14 November 2025 / Revised: 8 December 2025 / Accepted: 15 December 2025 / Published: 22 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Materials and Technologies in Orthodontics)
Versions Notes

Abstract

This cross-sectional experimental study compared a digital intraoral-scanner-based method with a traditional wax-registration method for the quantitative assessment of static occlusal contacts. Twenty adults with natural dentition were evaluated using an intraoral scan analyzed through a Java-based software (PixCount.java, version 1.0, version 1.0, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy) and wax registration analyzed with Z_TMJ software (Z_TMJ, version 1.0, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy). The primary outcome was the percentage distribution of static occlusal contacts between hemi-arches. A paired t-test and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to evaluate differences and agreement. Mean contact distribution was 49.75 ± 3.44% for the digital method and 48.02 ± 5.31% for the wax method. No statistically significant difference was observed (p > 0.05), and agreement analysis showed moderate concordance (ICC ≈ 0.43). Digital analysis provided superior visualization and workflow efficiency, whereas wax registration remained a practical, low-cost option. These findings indicate that both methods provide clinically meaningful information, with the digital approach offering additional practical advantages. The observed consistency between the two techniques supports the expanding role of digital tools in routine occlusal assessment.
Keywords: dentistry; dental occlusion; digital technology; digital health dentistry; dental occlusion; digital technology; digital health

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Levrini, L.; Deppieri, A.; Ugas, A.; Zecca, P.A.; Bocchieri, S.; Saran, S.; Giannotta, N.; Manelli, A.; Broido, P.; Carganico, A. Comparison of Digital and Traditional Methods for Occlusal Contact Assessment: An Experimental Cross-Sectional Study. Appl. Sci. 2026, 16, 132. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16010132

AMA Style

Levrini L, Deppieri A, Ugas A, Zecca PA, Bocchieri S, Saran S, Giannotta N, Manelli A, Broido P, Carganico A. Comparison of Digital and Traditional Methods for Occlusal Contact Assessment: An Experimental Cross-Sectional Study. Applied Sciences. 2026; 16(1):132. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16010132

Chicago/Turabian Style

Levrini, Luca, Alessandro Deppieri, Andrea Ugas, Piero Antonio Zecca, Salvatore Bocchieri, Stefano Saran, Nicola Giannotta, Alessandro Manelli, Paolo Broido, and Andrea Carganico. 2026. "Comparison of Digital and Traditional Methods for Occlusal Contact Assessment: An Experimental Cross-Sectional Study" Applied Sciences 16, no. 1: 132. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16010132

APA Style

Levrini, L., Deppieri, A., Ugas, A., Zecca, P. A., Bocchieri, S., Saran, S., Giannotta, N., Manelli, A., Broido, P., & Carganico, A. (2026). Comparison of Digital and Traditional Methods for Occlusal Contact Assessment: An Experimental Cross-Sectional Study. Applied Sciences, 16(1), 132. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16010132

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop