Occlusionalarm

Occlusionalarm is a term used to describe a monitoring system designed to provide real-time feedback on dental occlusion, with the goal of detecting abnormal bite forces, contact patterns, or misalignment. By capturing when and how teeth contact each other, such systems aim to identify issues that can contribute to tooth wear, temporomandibular joint strain, or unstable bite after dental procedures.

Most occlusionalarm concepts rely on sensors embedded in intraoral devices such as mouthguards or dental splints, or on external wearables that athletes, patients, or clinic staff can use. These sensors measure occlusal events, including contact timing, force magnitude, and contact sequence, often using piezoelectric, capacitive, or resistive technology. Data are transmitted to a clinician’s dashboard or a connected mobile device, where algorithms analyze patterns and trigger alerts when predefined thresholds are exceeded or unusual sequences are detected. Alerts may be visual, audible, or haptic, and the collected data can be stored for longitudinal analysis.

Applications include clinical assessment of occlusion before and after restorative work, monitoring orthodontic or orthognathic treatment progress, evaluation of bruxism or sleep-related grinding, and ongoing management of temporomandibular joint disorders. They can also support patient self-monitoring and serve as objective records to guide treatment decisions. Limitations include sensor calibration, user comfort and compliance, potential false alarms, data privacy considerations, and cost. See also occlusion, bruxism, temporomandibular joint disorders, dental sensors.