OBJECTIVETo observe the occlusal contacts in intercuspal position(ICP) in adolescent patients after orthodontic treatment.

METHODSFourteen adolescent patients after orthodontic treatment were selected as experimental group and 17 healthy adolescents and young adults with normal occlusion were selected as control group. The occlusal contact in ICP in the two groups were recorded with T-Scan II system and compared.

RESULTSWhen the total of force (TOF) were 1/10 TOFmax, 1/4 TOFmax, 1/2 TOFmax, 3/4 TOFmax and TOFmax, the number of occlusal contacts in the anterior segment in the experimental group were 1.5(1.0), 3.0(1.3), 4.5(3.3), 5.5(3.0), 5.5(3.3), which were significantly larger than that in control group [0.0(0.3), 0.0(0.6), 0.3(0.5), 0.3(1.0), 0.0(1.8), P < 0.05]. There were no significant difference in the area of occlusal contacts in the posterior segment between experimental group and control group (P > 0.05). The center of force (COF) in the experimental group located significantly more mesially than that in control group. The value of ICP contact time in experimental group was 0.192(0.141) s and no significant difference was found between experimental group and control group [0.163(0.200) s].

CONCLUSIONSAlthough the patients achieved normal occlusion after orthodontic treatment, their anterior teeth received more occlusal force than those in healthy adolescents and young adults with normal occlusion.