Bite Force Measurements

Launched by RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY · Feb 20, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how to better measure and understand dental pain associated with conditions like irreversible pulpitis, apical periodontitis, and pulpal necrosis, which can cause severe tooth pain. The researchers want to find non-opioid treatments for this pain, as many patients currently rely on opioids for relief. They will use a device called the Innobyte® to measure how much force a patient can apply when biting, which will help assess the pain levels and health of the teeth involved.

To participate in this study, you need to be at least 18 years old and have a lower first or second molar that is healthy enough for a filling or root canal, without any major issues. You should also be able to speak English and provide consent to join. The study will not include patients with certain health conditions or those taking specific medications that could affect the results. If you qualify and choose to participate, you can expect to undergo a simple procedure using the device to help improve understanding of dental pain and explore better treatment options.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Individuals who present for
• • a lower 1st or 2nd molar filling in an otherwise healthy tooth, i.e., does not have large decay that has already infected the nerve of the tooth, or there is increased mobility due to gum disease or a root canal treatment on a lower molar tooth and there is no history of injury to the tooth, or
• • a lower molar root canal treatment, and
• • are 18 years or older
• • capable of providing informed consent, are eligible to participate in the study, as long as they satisfy the criteria below.
• • The opposing tooth is present, symptom-free and has adequate tooth structure that allows it to make contact with the tooth it bites against, and
• • are English-speaking
• Exclusion Criteria:
• * Any patient, even if satisfying the criteria above, may not take part if any of the below is true:
• • Compromised ability to guard their self-interest, for e.g., prisoners, children, pregnant women, patients with intellectual/cognitive disability are not enrolled in the study.
• • Take prescription pain medications for long-standing health conditions
• • Addiction/ substance dependence
• • Swelling that extends beyond the tooth in question
• • Are already taking an antibiotic to treat an infection/swelling
• • Missing complementary molar on the same or opposite side of the mouth
• • Missing more than 2 teeth in a quadrant (other than 3rd molars)
• • Any other molar in the pair either on the side of the tooth of interest or the molar pair on the other side is painful to biting pressure or upon 'tapping' the tooth with the handle of the mouth mirror
• • The patient has taken a pain medication within the last 6 hours