A study on the occlusal wear patterns in maxillary posterior teeth with palatal side abfractions

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Aims to analyze the occlusal wear patterns in maxillary posterior teeth with palatal side abfractions and study the association between occlusal force and abfractions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in a total of 308 teeth from 148 patients with palatal side abfractions in maxillary posterior teeth. The occlusal wears in maxillary premolars and molars with palatal side abfractions were classified and recorded. The classification was done by type of teeth, age, and gender, and in order to evaluate the statistical significance between groups, chi-square test was conducted (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Palatal side abfractions in maxillary posterior teeth were observed at the highest frequency in the 1st molars, and in all teeth with palatal side abfractions, more than one occlusal wear was observed. In classification by type of teeth, by age, and by gender, the occlusal wears in teeth with palatal side abfractions were observed at high frequency in cuspal inclined plane, central fossa, and marginal ridge, and there was a statistical significance (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Palatal side abfractions were observed at the highest frequency in maxillary 1st molars, and in all maxillary posterior teeth where palatal side abfractions were found, the occlusal wears were observed. And the occlusal wears were observed at high frequency in cuspal inclined plane, central fossa and marginal ridge. Such results show that abfraction is associated with occlusal force.