Alkan, Bulut, Arici, Sato than those in Group C. considered, we can tentatively suggest that Figures 5 and 6 show the VAS scores of the the Dental Prescale is a suitable tool for the groups. assessment of occlusal contact area and bite force. dIscuIon Measurement with the pressure-sensitive In clinical research on occlusion, various sheet is affected not only by the activity of techniques are used to assess the nature of masticatory muscles but also by dental and occlusal contact in the intercuspal position. occlusal conditions.8 Recently, Miyaura et al14 used Usually, this is measured with a custom bite a pressure detecting sheet in an epidemiological transducer or T-Scan system.10-13 It has been study to evaluate the biting abilities of each suggested that these measurement systems participant. As a result, the biting abilities were occasionally misread the occlusal contact area closely correlated with the number of present and bite force because they are fairly inflexible teeth.15 Therefore; we selected patients that had or thick.8 Recently, a pressure sensitive device complete dentitions in this study. that is very thin and flexible has been approved The literature has numerous reports for dental use. Bite force, occlusal contact area, implicating parafunctional activity as having a and occlusal balance are measured and analyzed significant role in the cause of temporomandibular using this device. When these advantages are disorders (TMD).2,16 Capurso17 collected data Figure 1. Dental Prescale. Figure 3. Changes in the mean occlusal contact area in study groups and control. Figure 2. Analysis of biting pressure sensitive sheet bite force (BF), bite pressure (BP) and occlusal contact area (OCA). BF (newtons [N]): Pressure multiplied by the area. OCA (square millimeters): Total area of the impressed marks on the sheet. BP (megapascals [MPa]): The BF per 1 mm2 of the OCA. October 2008 - Vol.2 Figure 4. Changes in the mean bite force in study groups and control. 279 European Journal of Dentistry