1996 Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages 201-206
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of repeated border movement on motional area of mandible. Eight male dentists (25-33 yr. old) were asked to open their mouths via (i) habitual (ii) anterior border (iii) right and (iv) left border path of mandibular movements from maximal intercuspal position, and close freely to the starting position except (ii), when they closed via posterior border. After the recording of each of the 4 movements in order without visual feedback, they repeated this sequence of movements 10 times with visual feedback followed by the display of a jaw tracking device (Shofu co. ltd., MM-JI-E) simultaneously showing their mandibular movement of lower incisal points. Including the last one sequence recorded without visual feedback, 12 sequences were recorded for each subject. The pathways and range of motions of lower incisal, right and left condylar points were compared according to repetition.
The range of maximal opening was expanded in 7 subjects in accordance with repetition of sequence and they were correlated with the range of condyle movement in one or both sides. The range of hinge movement during closing via posterior closing path was also expanded in 5 subjects in accordance with the repetition of sequence.
