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Mandibular Helical Axis Pathways during MasticationClinic for Masticatory Disorders and Complete Dentures, Center for Oral Medicine, Dental and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University of Zurich, Plattenstrasse 11, CH-8028 Zurich, Switzerland
1Dept. of Orthodontics, Kanagawa Dental College, Japan
Clinic for Masticatory Disorders and Complete Dentures, Center for Oral Medicine, Dental and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University of Zurich, Plattenstrasse 11, CH-8028 Zurich, Switzerland Condylar and incisor trajectories are often used for the study of mandibular movements. Condylar trajectories, however, depend on the location of the reference point and can be interpreted erroneously. In contrast, the helical axis analysis yields an unequivocal description of rigid body kinematics. The aim of this study was to analyze the mandibular helical axis during mastication. Seven subjects without signs and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders and with class I occlusion were recorded by means of the optoelectronic system Jaws-3D during unilateral mastication of bread cubes (2-cm side). The helical axis was computed every 14 ms with a rotation threshold of 1°. Parameters describing its spatial orientation and position relative to the condyles were calculated. The helical axis changed orientation and position more pronouncedly during the closing than during the opening phases of mastication. The orientation varied significantly from beginning to end of closing but not of opening, indicating less fluctuation of the helical axis on opening than on closing. Also, the distance d CP between helical axis and reference condylar point varied more significantly (p < 0.05) on the working than on the balancing side: On the working side, dCP decreased during both opening and closing, whereas on the balancing side, d CP increased only for closing. Furthermore, the helical axis pathway often showed a bowing ventrally to the balancing condyle, indicating that, during closing, the balancing condyle still translated backward while essentially only rotation occurred around the working condyle. Thus, the helical axis changed its position and orientation continuously during mastication.
Key Words: temporomandibular joint • helical axis • mastication • biomechanics.
Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 79, No. 8,
1566-1572 (2000) This article has been cited by other articles:
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