This paper describes a study conducted to thermographically analyze facial temperatures and to apply the analyzed results to the examination and diagnosis of stomatognathic functions in prosthodontics. First, I examined temperature distribution at several locations on the face of persons at rest whose stomatognathic systems were normal.
These distributions were then compared with the temperature distributions of persons with mandibular dysfunction, and studied for possible use of thermograms to distinguish the two groups.
Thermograms of facial temperature at rest revealed that the facial temperatures of persons with normal stomatognathic systems varied greatly according to sex and showed marked individualcharacteristics. In individual subjects, temperatures were high in the temporal muscle, but no large differences were seen in any of the other four measurement sites or between the habitual and non -habitual sides. Thus a characteristic distribution was demonstrated.
The distribution of facial temperature among persons with mandibular dysfunction differed slightly from that of persons with normal stomatognathic systems.
These experimental results suggested that facial temperature thermography can be useful in prosthodontics.