[The accuracy of occlusal simulation of virtual craniofacial movement simulation system].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the accuracy of occlusal contacts simulated by virtual craniofacial movement simulation system, and to provide theoretical basis for its application.


METHODS
Ten pairs of plaster dental casts were fabricated, and mounted on Kavo PROTA 7 articulator. Lateral movement was produced on the articulator. Then each pair of the casts on the articulator was scanned three dimensionally and used as the reference model. The movement of the articulator was simulated using the virtual craniofacial movement simulation system. Then, the digital casts were established on the simulation system and used as the test model. To evaluate the accuracy of the simulation system, positional differences between the simulated and the reference lower dentition were compared.


RESULTS
The mean value of the absolute average distance between the simulated and reference lower dentition was (0.18 ± 0.05) mm. Among the left, right, anterior and posterior areas of the dentition, the maximum mean value of the absolute average distance between the simulated and the reference model was found in the right posterior area, which was (0.19 ± 0.07) mm.


CONCLUSIONS
The in vitro accuracy of occlusal contacts simulated by virtual craniofacial movement simulation system is 0.19 mm, and this could be a reference data for the practical application of this system.
Chen
Lei
L
Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China.
Zhang
Hao
H
Feng
Hai-lan
HL
Zhang
Chi
C
Zhang
Feng-jun
FJ
D000328:Adult; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003725:Dental Articulators; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D003817:Dentition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology*; D003765:Models, Dental; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult