Dr. Coleman's Research

Significant Contributions to World Dental Health and Optimal Masticatory Function:

Objective Diagnosis of Occlusion

Dr. Coleman is a leading clinician, researcher and educator in the objective means to assess masticatory system imbalance relating to the functional contact of teeth. This research has included several landmark publications as well as PowerPoint lectures. It has been of benefit for the professional understanding of excessive functional or hyper-functional occlusal (bite) force within the masticatory system. The masticatory system includes the contact of teeth during function, the contractility by muscles of mastication, and movement of the TM (jaw) joints.

Two objective means to determine occlusal dysharmonies during the contact of teeth are Air Indexing Method and T-Scan Occlusal Analysis System.

• The first objective diagnostic tool is the Air Indexing Method which uses an air stimulus for determining Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity (CDH). This clinical finding results from either excessive occlusal force or from the presence of biocorrosive agents. The presence of CDH is most frequently at the interface between enamel and root structure. It is present during excessive functional or parafunctional (night-time grinding of teeth) contact of teeth. The presence of fewer than 6 teeth diagnosed with CDH has been suggested to result from excessive occlusal force. The detection of 6 or greater teeth diagnosed with this enigma has been suggested to arise from biocorrosion. Biocorrosion has been defined to result from exogenous or endogenous acids, proteolysis, and/or piezoelectric effects. The presence of CDH represents in large part from a clinical finding of excessive occlusal (bite) force.
• A Tekscan software product identified as T-Scan is the second objective means of determining bite errors in the masticatory system. This software product determines bite force relations during tooth contact which currently includes concomitant EMG recordings . A T-Scan force movie produces timing and force value objective means for the determination of occlusal force.

Professional Fields of Research

Dr. Coleman has been involved in the research and publication of information relating to the etiology of cervical dentin hypersensitivity (CDH), commonly expressed as cold or air sensitivity to teeth since 1979.

He conducted a 17- year evidence-based retrospective study of 250 active clinical patient records and found a positive association between CDH and stress induced (abfractive) lesions. It was found that the long- term resolution of CDH resulted from occlusal equilibration/adjustment in the aforementioned group for 101 patients. The remaining 149 patients were treated for biocorrosion or excluded from occlusal treatment. It was noted that the presence of CDH appears to be the initial and active expression of stress as a cofactor in the etiology of NCCLs from occlusal microtrauma.

Development of an “air indexing method” and a Fluid Control Block (FCB) attachment to an air/water syringe occurred for objectively detecting and quantifying CDH prior to or following any form of treatment.

In 2006, he conducted research with John O. Grippo, DDS, Michelle E. Morgan, Ph D, curator of the Harvard University Peabody Museum, and Andre Ritter, DDS among five archeological populations from North America and Europe to investigate dental cervical defects among non- tooth brushing groups.

Dr. Coleman has worked with Dr. John O. Grippo and Dr. Marvin Simring investigating the effects of stress and biocorrosion in the etiology of NCCLs upon teeth since 2011.

Most recently, he has conducted a clinical study for Dr. Robert B. Kerstein using the T- Scan digital occlusal analysis system. This study of occlusion/TMD had led to a chapter in a dental Handbook published by IGI Global Inc. January, 2015.

A 1hr 46 min CE video disclosing the effects of stress conditions from occlusal force loads and biocorrosive effects to teeth was published by IGI Global Inc. January, 2017.

Dr. Coleman remains actively engaged in the topics of abfraction, CDH, NCCLs, and biocorrosion with the construction of a textbook.

Peer- Reviewed Dental Literature Contributions

• Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity. Part I: The Air Indexing method. Coleman, T. A., Kinderknecht, K. E. Quintessence International: 31(7); 461-465 (2000).
• Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity. Part II: Associations with abfractive lesions. Coleman, T. A., Grippo, J. O., & Kinderknecht, K. E. Quintessence International: 31(7); 466-473 (2000).
• Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity. Part III: resolution following occlusal equilibration. Coleman, T. A., Grippo, J. O., Kinderknecht, K. E. Quintessence International: 34(6);427-434 (2003).
• Critical Appraisal - Cervical Hypersensitivity. Coleman, T. A. J Esthet Rest Dent: 15(6);377-381 (2003).
• Occlusal Disease Management System - The Diagnosis Process. Ruiz, J. L., Coleman, T. A. Compendium: 29(3);148-158 (2008).
• Prevalence of Carious and Non-carious Cervical Lesions in Archaeological Populations from North America and Europe. Ritter, A. V., Grippo, J. O., Coleman, T. A., Morgan, M. E. J Esthet Rest Dent: 21(5);324-335 (2009).
• Abfraction, Abrasion, Biocorrosion, and the Enigma of Noncarious Cervical Lesions: A 20-Year Perspective. Grippo, J. O., Simring, M., Coleman, T. A. J Esthet Rest Dent: 24(1);10-25 (2012).
• Grippo J. O., Coleman T. A., Messina A. M., & Oh, D. S. (2018). A literature review and hypothesis for the etiologies of cervical and root caries. Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry, 30(3), 187-192. doi.
• Rappeport, S.A., Coleman, T.A. (2018). Noncarious Cervical Lesions And the Abfractive Process. Decisions in Dentistry, 4(11), 10-17.
• Yiannios, N.C., Coleman, T.A., Radke, J.C. (2019). Digitally Measured Anterior Guidance Development Reduces Cold Water and Air Indexing Tooth Hypersensitivity. Advanced Dental Technologies & Techniques online June, 2019 Vol. 1, no. 2, 2-15.

Chapter Construction

• Handbook of Research on Computerized Occlusal Analysis Technology Applications in Dental Medicine: IGI Global Inc.: Detecting and Quantifying Chronic Dental Microtrauma and Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity, using the Air Indexing Method combined with T- Scan System. Chapter 9; 429- 466 (2015).
• Handbook of Research on Clinical Applications of Computerized Occlusal Analysis in Dental Medicine: IGI Global Inc.: Combining the Air Indexing Method With the T-Scan System to Detect and Quantify Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity. Chapter 11; 829- 878 (2019).

Continuing Education (C.E.) Article/Video - IGI Publication

• Incisal Edge (Benco) - Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity: Etiology & Current Treatment. Coleman, T. A. (2001).
• Continuing Education (C.E.) Video - See IGI video opportunity on Welcome Page

Dr. Coleman conducted non-funded research between the objective recordings of the T-Scan and clinical findings of CDH with Air Indexing in his Brandon, VT office beginning 2011 and continuing until 2014. Dr. Coleman has been the recipient of national acclaim as an "expert" in this region of dentistry.