Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to reproduce three-dimensional chewing movements and the change of occlusal contact points by software.
Materials and Methods: The study model was converted into the software as STL data from a CAD scanner. In addition, we recorded XML data of the mandibular border movement, opening and closing movements, and chewing movements using a six-degree-of-freedom jaw tracking device (ARCUS digma2, KaVo, Biberach, Germany). The XML data was converted to STL data, and we reproduced the three-dimensional chewing movements and occlusal contact points by the software.
Discussion: Using the functional analysis program, it is possible to reproduce the border movements, opening and closing movements, and chewing movements in three dimensions. We could also observe the change of occlusal contact points in the chewing movements. We suggest that occlusal interference could be found or the temporo-mandibular joint could be examined in the future by using the software to analyze three-dimensional jaw movements.
Conclusions: We succeeded in observing three-dimensional jaw movements from every angle by the software. In addition, the changes of occlusal contact points in chewing movements were reproduced.
