Digital Occlusion Technology Applications In Daily Dental Practice. Hands-on Workshop by Robert B. Kerstein

Excessive and poorly timed occlusal contacts remain a primary cause of fractured restorations, implant complications, muscular hyperactivity, and repeated post-insertion adjustment visits. Articulating paper can show where a contact occurs — but not when it occurs or how much force it carries.

This course focuses on the clinical application of the T-Scan System — the most extensively researched and clinically validated computerized occlusal analysis technology. T-Scan measures occlusal force and timing in real time, allowing clinicians to identify premature and excessive contacts that traditional indicators cannot quantify.

Participants will learn how computer-guided occlusal adjustments during prosthetic case insertions can:

— Precisely control occlusal force balance
— Reduce post-insertion complications
— Improve restorative longevity
— Enhance patient occlusal comfort and functional acceptance.

Clinical protocols will be presented for prosthodontics, dental implant prostheses, TMD management using Disclusion Time Reduction (DTR), and case finishing. The program includes a live T-Scan recording demonstration and a hands-on recording session guided by the lecturer.

Lecturer — Robert B. Kerstein is an internationally recognized authority in computerized occlusal analysis and Disclusion Time Reduction (DTR), with numerous published studies demonstrating how measured digital occlusal treatment improves clinical outcomes and reduces mechanical and muscular complications.

Advantages of the “Hands-on workshop” participation option:

– Participation in the scientific program
– Coffee break
– Notes and handouts
– Certificate of participation
– ADA credits available upon request
– Lunch 
– Priority seats in the venue
– Distinct reception counter
– VIP certificate
– VIP badge 

– Access to online course by Robert B. Kerstein “T-Scan™ for Digital Occlusal Analysis: Protocols of Robert Kerstein”

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

— Recognize the different digital occlusion technologies available for use in dental practice.
— Understand how digital occlusion technology measures occlusal force and timing, and how it can guide occlusal adjustments during prosthesis insertion, improving the predictability of clinical outcomes.
— Identify the known limitations of articulating paper and shimstock, and understand why intraoral scanners (IOS) cannot replace digital occlusion technology during restorative insertions.
— Visualize how digital occlusion technology detects unbalanced occlusal forces, even after traditional occlusal adjustments have been performed.
— Recognize that delivering new restorations using only traditional occlusal indicators may result in compromised force and timing outcomes, potentially leading to clinical complications.
— Demonstrate how to precisely insert various dental and implant-supported prostheses using measured occlusal force balance and a protective low-force profile that enhances restorative longevity while improving patient occlusal comfort and acceptance.
 

Program

I. Introduction – The Digital Era of Dentistry is Modernizing Prosthodontics

What is Computerized Occlusal Analysis and how does it help you?
Available Digital Occlusal Technologies:
 

— T-Scan 10 System – Tekscan Inc., South Boston, MA, USA
— OccluSense – Bausch GmbH, Germany
— Accura – Dmetec, South Korea
— Intraoral Scanners
— Innobyte – Kube Innovations, Canada.

Why do I use T-Scan?
It is the only researched and clinically validated digital occlusion technology. At present, neither OccluSense nor Accura data is sufficiently understood regarding how it can be safely applied clinically with dental patients. Additionally, neither technology has been fully verified for accuracy, force reproduction, or long-term sensor reliability.

Hundreds of scientific papers and multiple textbook chapters on T-Scan have verified its accuracy, force reproduction capability, time quantification, and clinical effectiveness.

Numerous Digital Occlusion T-Scan protocols exist in the fields of:
 

— Prosthodontics
— Dental Implants
— TMD
— Posturology
— Orthodontics
— Periodontics
— Occlusal Diagnosis
— Aesthetic Dentistry
— Tooth Hypersensitivity
— Mandibular Orthosis Therapy
— Occlusal Adjustments performed with precise outcome measures
— Patient Education.

II. T-Scan Recording Demonstration on a Volunteer Attendee

— How to make reliable functional digital occlusion recordings and establish an accurate digital occlusal diagnosis.

III. Hands-On T-Scan Recording Session
 

— Attendees will record on each other under the guidance of Dr. Kerstein, focusing on proper recording methodology.

IV. Problem Solving in Occlusion
 

— Treating unwanted occlusal complications using digital occlusion data.

V. The True Limitations of Articulating Paper and Intraoral Scanners
 

— Research assessing occlusal indicator accuracy and reliability
— The “Paper Mark” challenge.

VI. Clinical Applications of Computerized Occlusal Analysis

— Prosthetic case insertions
— Dental implant prostheses
— Digital occlusion and EMG synchronization to treat muscular TMD using Disclusion Time Reduction (DTR)
— Clear aligner therapy case finishing.

VII. Measured Digital Occlusal Treatment Research Studies

— Improving human chewing motion and strength
— Resolving muscle hyperactivity without splints, deprogrammers, TENS, physiotherapy, or orthosis
— Postural improvements from computer-guided DTR occlusal treatment
— A multi-center Disclusion Time Reduction (DTR) randomized controlled occlusal adjustment trial
— Trigeminal neuralgia treated with Disclusion Time Reduction (DTR).

VIII. Questions and Answers