Occlusal contact area of mandibular teeth during lateral excursion.
OBJECTIVE
This study observed occlusal contacts and determined their areas on the mandibular teeth, especially the molars, during voluntary lateral excursions.


METHODS
Occlusal contact areas were estimated with a measurement system combining 3-D tracking of mandibular movements with 3-D digitization of tooth shape. Sixteen women with sound permanent dentitions participated.


RESULTS
At the intercuspal position, estimated occlusal contact areas of the first and second mandibular molars were on average 12.6 mm2 and 9.0 mm2, respectively. However, after 3.0 mm of lateral excursion, their areas were sharply reduced to 2.2 mm2 and 1.5 mm2 on the working side, and 0.4 mm2 and 1.1 mm2 on the nonworking side, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the occlusal contact areas on working- and nonworking-side molars differ from each other as lateral excursion proceeds.
Section of Pediatric Dentistry, Division of Oral Health, Growth & Development, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. hayasaki@dent.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Haruaki
H
Hayasaki
Atsuyoshi
A
Okamoto
Yoko
Y
Iwase
Youichi
Y
Yamasaki
Minoru
M
Nakata
D000328:Adult; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003481:Cuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D003767:Dental Occlusion, Balanced; D003768:Dental Occlusion, Centric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007180:Incisor / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007574:Jaw Relation Record / Q000295:instrumentation; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009068:Movement; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*