Bite Force Measurement Devices for Dentists and Researchers
Innobyte, T-Scan, and OccluSense Compared
Measuring bite force has become an increasingly important part of modern dental practice.
Whether you are planning implant treatment, monitoring the effects of neuromodulators, diagnosing temporomandibular disorders, treating chronic oral and crano-facial pain, or conducting clinical research on masticatory function, the device you choose determines what kind of data you can collect and what clinical decisions that data can support.
This page compares the three clinically approved bite force measurement devices available for use in dental practice and research settings: Innobyte by Kube Innovation, T-Scan by Tekscan, and OccluSense by Bausch.
It is intended to help both practicing clinicians and dental researchers understand the differences between these devices and identify which tool, or combination of tools, best fits their needs.
Understanding the Difference Between Absolute and Relative Bite Force
Before comparing devices, it is worth understanding the single most important distinction in bite force measurement: the difference between absolute force and relative force.
These are two different clinical questions. A 60%- 40% force distribution tells you the pattern of occlusal loading. It does not tell you whether that total force is 300 newtons or 900 newtons. For many clinical decisions, both measurements together provide the most complete picture of a patient's occlusal function.
Absolute bite force
The total amount of force a patient generates when biting, expressed in newtons (N).
Absolute bite force tells you how much force the masticatory system is actually producing. This is the measurement most relevant to implant load assessment, neuromodulator dosing, bruxism monitoring, and research applications where a quantifiable, reproducible force value is required.
Relative bite force
The distribution of force across individual teeth, expressed as a percentage of total force.
Relative bite force tells you how force is shared across the arch, which teeth are carrying the heaviest load, and in what sequence teeth make contact. This is the measurement most relevant to occlusal adjustment, contact sequence analysis, and identifying premature interferences.
Key specifications:
Measures absolute total and bilateral bite force
Unit of measurement:
Newtons (N)
Maximum measurable force:
2000N
Display:
Onboard LED, no external device required
Software required:
None
Regulatory clearance: y
Yes, approved for clinical use
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Innobyte by Kube Innovation
Innobyte is a digital gnathodynamometer that measures total and bilateral bite force in absolute newtons. It is a standalone, handheld device with an LED display that shows results immediately, without requiring software, a computer, or any external device.
Innobyte uses a patent-pending fluid force measurement system and can measure human bite force up to 2000N. It is the only clinically approved gnathodynamometer for sale that measures absolute bite force, making it the appropriate tool when the actual magnitude of occlusal force is the measurement required.
Clinical uses include:
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Implant treatment planning and load assessment
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Baseline and follow-up measurement for neuromodulator treatment
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Bruxism monitoring and documentation
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TMD assessment and treatment tracking
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Pre- and post-treatment outcome documentation
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Patient education and case acceptance
For researchers:
Innobyte is the device of choice when a study requires a reproducible, quantifiable bite force value in newtons. It has been used in clinical dental research at institutions around the world and appears in peer-reviewed publications across a range of dental and systemic health topics. When a study protocol calls for a gnathodynamometer, Innobyte provides the standardized absolute force measurement that research methodology requires.
Key specifications:
Measures relative occlusal force distribution and contact timing
Unit of measurement: Percentage of total force (%)
Display: Computer software required
Software required: Yes
Regulatory clearance: Yes, approved for clinical use
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T-Scan by Tekscan
T-Scan is a digital occlusal analysis system that measures relative bite force and contact timing across individual teeth. It uses an ultrathin flexible sensor shaped to fit the dental arch, which the patient bites down on while the system records contact sequence and force distribution in real time, displayed as a two or three-dimensional map on connected software.
T-Scan does not measure absolute bite force in newtons. It shows the percentage of total force on each tooth relative to the overall bite, and records the timing and sequence of occlusal contacts. This makes it a powerful tool for occlusal analysis, bite adjustment, and identifying premature contacts, but it is not designed to answer the question of how much total force a patient generates.
Clinical uses include:
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Occlusal analysis and bite adjustment
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Contact sequence and timing evaluation
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Identification of premature occlusal contacts
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Occlusal balance documentation
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Splint and appliance assessment
For researchers
T-Scan is appropriate when a study focuses on occlusal contact patterns, force distribution, or timing rather than absolute force values. It has a substantial body of published research supporting its use in these applications.
Used together, Innobyte and T-Scan provide a comprehensive occlusal dataset. T-Scan maps where force goes and in what sequence. Innobyte measures how much total force there is. For complex cases, full-arch restorations, and research protocols requiring both distribution and magnitude data, the two devices are complementary rather than competing.
Key specifications:
Measures relative occlusal force distribution and contact sequence
Unit of measurement:
Percentage of total force (%)
Display:
iPad required
Software required:
Yes, via iPad
Regulatory clearance:
Yes, approved for clinical use
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OccluSense
OccluSense is a hybrid occlusal analysis system introduced in 2019. It uses a sensor covered in articulating paper that records occlusal contact data and transmits it wirelessly to an iPad for viewing and analysis.
Like T-Scan, OccluSense measures relative occlusal force and contact sequence. It does not measure absolute bite force in newtons.OccluSense requires an iPad connection before results can be viewed or interpreted.
Clinical uses include:
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Occlusal contact analysis
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Force distribution mapping
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First-contact identification
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Bite adjustment guidance
For researchers
OccluSense is a newer entrant to the market and has a smaller published research base than either T-Scan or Innobyte at this time.
For Dental Researchers: A Note on Gnathodynamometers
A gnathodynamometer is a device designed to measure the force of the jaw muscles, expressed as bite force in newtons.
In dental research, gnathodynamometers are used to study masticatory performance, evaluate treatment outcomes, assess systemic health correlations, and establish normative bite force data across populations.
Not all devices marketed as bite force measurement tools are gnathodynamometers in the research sense of the term. T-Scan and OccluSense measure relative force distribution, which is a different parameter than absolute bite force. For research protocols that specify bite force in newtons as an outcome measure, a true gnathodynamometer is required.
Innobyte is a clinically approved gnathodynamometer that measures absolute bite force up to 2000N and has been validated for use in peer-reviewed research. For a full database of published research using Innobyte, visit our Scientific Database.