High Spot Indicator

High Spot Indicator

A new filling or crown often sits a fraction too high, so it hits before the other teeth meet. A high spot indicator shows exactly where that early contact is. The products here are bite-registration materials — VPS pastes and putties — that the patient bites into to record how the teeth meet, so the high point reads clearly and can be trimmed. They come from the same VPS family as the wider impression materials range.

What it is used for

Checking the bite is a final step after placing or adjusting a restoration:

• Find premature contacts — shows where a new crown or filling hits before the rest of the bite.
• Verify occlusion — confirms the teeth meet evenly across the arch, not on one high point.
• Record the bite — captures the relationship for lab work, an articulator, or a CAD/CAM design.
• Check dentures and appliances — marks high spots on a denture or splint that need easing.

The result is an even, comfortable bite.

What to look for

Points to weigh when choosing a material:

• Set time — a fast-setting paste for a quick chairside check; slower for detailed records.
• Form — a syringable VPS paste for accuracy, or a putty for a firmer bite record.
• Rigidity — a rigid set holds the record without distorting when handled.
• Colour — a clear contrast so the high spot reads against the tooth or composite.

Match the material to whether you need a quick check or a lab-grade record.

Where it fits your workflow

Checking occlusion comes right after the restoration is seated:

• Seat — place the filling, crown, or milled restoration.
• Check — have the patient bite into the material to reveal any high spot.
• Adjust — trim the marked contact, then re-check until the bite is even.

It is a routine step before finishing any restoration in the prosthetics range.

What is a high spot indicator used for?

It finds the spot where a restoration meets the opposing tooth first, ahead of the rest of the bite. Once a filling or crown is in, the patient bites into a registration material that captures the occlusion and reveals that early contact. Relieving the marked point stops the ache and uneven wear a high restoration otherwise causes.

How does bite registration material show a high spot?

The material sets between the teeth as the patient bites, capturing exactly how they meet. Where a restoration is too high, it touches first and shows a thin or marked area in the record. That point is the premature contact. Reading the set material, or an articulating mark alongside it, tells the clinician precisely where to adjust.

What is the difference between this and articulating paper?

They both find high spots but in different ways. Articulating paper leaves a coloured ink mark on the tooth at the contact point. A bite-registration material records the whole occlusal relationship in a set impression. Paper is quick for marking; a registration material gives a fuller record for the lab or an articulator. Many clinicians use both.

What material is used for bite registration?

Most are vinyl polysiloxane (VPS), the same family as VPS impression material, supplied as a syringable paste or a putty. VPS sets fast, stays dimensionally stable, and records fine detail. Some products are rigid for a firm record; others stay slightly flexible. Pick by set time and rigidity, and by how detailed a record you actually need.

How do I use a bite registration material?

Dry the area, dispense the paste or putty onto the biting surfaces, and have the patient close into their normal bite until it sets. Remove the set record and read where the restoration contacts first. Trim that high spot, then repeat the check until the bite is even. Follow the product's set time and handling instructions.