title: [A method for three-dimensional analysis of occlusal contacts from digital dental casts].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was to investigate the occlusal contacts with a set of dental casts based on their three-dimensional models in the intercuspal position.
  
  
  METHODS
  3D point-clouds of the dental casts in the intercuspal position were acquired by D.02-L-3D scanner with a special casts-locating device, and reconstructed . The areas of occlusal contacts were calculated, and were further compared with the results from the methods of articulating paper and photocclusion technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the result of occlusal contacts analysis between the 3D reconstructive measurement and articulating paper or photocclusion technique. The virtual articulating paper was also preliminarily carried out in this research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study verified the reliability of the measurement for occlusal contacts by the 3D digital model, and may lead to a new way for occlusal contacts research.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Computerized Dentistry, Ministry of Health, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Jiao
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pei-Jun
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: LV
mesh_terms: D001732:Bite Force; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D003765:Models, Dental