A method for analysis of human mandibular occlusal movement.

A new method was developed to produce perspectives and maps of the top of Posselt's envelope of motion, the part that is mainly determined by occlusal tooth contact. Mandibular occlusal gliding movements were recorded in human subjects by optoelectronic tracking of infrared light emitters fixed to the subjects upper and lower teeth. Recordings were made by a commercially available electronic camera system that was extended to meet the special needs. An elaborate computer program was developed to process the information and convert it into graphic plots. Care was taken to make the system easy to use.