Literature Review of an Anterior Deprogrammer to Determine the Centric Relation and Presentation of Cases

Abstract

The increasing demand for dental aesthetics, articulation corrections, and solutions for pain and frequent bruxism demands quick and effective restorative dental management. The biomedical research aimed to create a beneficial, ecological, and readily available anterior deprogrammer to determine the centric relation (CR) of cases. This medical device is additively manufactured from a biocompatible material. Size is customizable based on the width of the patient’s anterior central incisors. This is a pilot study with two subjects. The task was to develop a complete data protocol for the production process, computer-aided design (CAD), and three-dimensional (3D) printing of the anterior deprogrammers. The research focused on creating simple and practically applicable tools for the dentist’s prescription (anterior deprogrammer in three sizes), and secondly for the communication between the dentist and the patient (computer application). The tested hypothesis was whether, according to these novel tools, it is possible to produce functional occlusal splints, which could be manufactured using current technologies. This study compared a traditional splint with a digitally designed and 3D-printed one. The tested hypothesis was whether manufactured occlusal splints differ in patients’ subjective perception of comfort. Each conservative treatment was monitored for ten weeks. Initial results are promising; no statistically significant difference was found between the productive technologies.