Devise a system for functional evaluation of masticatory dysfunction

Abstract

Anatomically and morphologically sound occlusions are not necessarily functionally sound. The purpose of this report is to present a systematic treatment approach based on morphological analysis and quantitative measurement of masticatory ability. First conducted were various morphological and functional analyses for 10 patients with dentition having no subjective symptom of mastication disorder. Then, a patient with a chief complaint of mastication disorder, who was diagnosed as being in need of occlusal reconstruction, underwent the same analyses before and after the treatment. The comparison between before and after treatment valuations allows quantification of masticatory ability and its improvement. “Comfortable occlusion”—what patients seek—is a subjective perception, so availability of quantitative analysis of masticatory ability is clinically significant.