A computerized simulation system of mandibular movement on Hanau articulator.

The purpose of this study is to solve the problems that lie in the current research on mandibular movement and dynamic occlusion of complete denture in the field of dental restoration. On the basis of the theory of spatial mechanisms, the displacement matrix of mandibular movement on Hanau articulator is established through the method of direction cosine matrix. By adopting techniques such as laser scanning, computer graphics, and computer database, a 3D digitized model of maxillary and mandibular body is reconstructed, and then a computerized simulation system of mandibular movement is developed. With the aid of this software, the geometrical locus of an arbitrary landmark on maxillary denture can be plotted, the visualization and diagnosis of mandibular movement can be easily realized and the information concerned with the positions and number of the occlusal contacts can be obtained. One edentulous case is taken as an example in this article. The results show this study provides a useful tool to deal with the functional aspects of occlusal morphology in a diagnostical and therapeutical sense.