The Effectiveness of Occlusal Adjustment Procedures for the Treatment of Food Impaction: Nine Clinical Cases

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether dynamic occlusal contacts can cause food impaction and the effectiveness of occlusal adjustment in the treatment of food impaction in the molar area as an alternative to restorative or prosthetic treatment. Occlusion and the periodontal condition were analyzed in nine patients complaining of food impaction in their molar areas. The obtained data included mobility, pocket depth, fremitus, proximal contact status, working or balancing interference, and bone resorption. Nine patients complaining of food impaction at posterior molar area were treated through the occlusal adjustment and examined every other week for about 3 months. An occlusal adjustment procedure to change from group function to canine guidance or partial group function eliminated food impaction in all but one mandible. The deep pocket depth of the molars gradually decreased, and the mobility of each molar decreased to normal in three of the nine cases with abnormal mobility. The results of this study suggest that occlusal interference and heavy working contacts on the molars can cause food impaction in the molar area and that a simple occlusal adjustment could be the optimal choice for treating food impaction.