Relationship between Frontal/Lateral Mandibular Translations and Masticatory Movement Based on Evaluation of Occlusal Surface Motion

Objective: This study aimed to clarify whether crown restorations with adjusted occlusal surfaces that were formed using frontal/lateral mandibular translations, functioned without interference during mastication.<br> Materials and Methods: In 10 adult volunteers who had healthy normal dentition, frontal and lateral border movement was measured during unilateral mastication and free mastication, using an ultrasound digital mandibular measuring system (ARCUS digma2). Additionally, precise impressions of the upper and lower dental arch were taken, and dental casts were made. These casts were measured using a CAD/CAM scanning system (ARCTICA). For the fabrication of crown restorations, the functionally generated path technique (FGP technique) was used on the monitor for the lower first and second molar. The movement of the opposite teeth on the occlusal surface during frontal and lateral border movement, during unilateral mastication, and during free mastication was considered the functional occlusal surface. The data of the functional occlusal surface generated by frontal/lateral mandibular translations and that of each of the masticatory functional occlusal surfaces were superimposed using three-dimensional data evaluation software (GOM). The difference between these surfaces was evaluated to determine the interference area, maximum interference difference, and average interference difference.<br> Results: Interference was present for all functional occlusal surfaces created by mastication as well as those determined by frontal/lateral mandibular translations. The average interference values, in order of free masticatory movement, habitual masticatory side, and non-habitual masticatory side, were as follows. Interference area: 167.5 ± 20.8 mm², 121.9 ± 28.5 mm², 144.6 ± 28.0 mm²; maximum interference distance: 345.0 ± 43.1 μm, 189.0 ± 39.9 μm, 309.0 ± 46.8 μm; average interference distance: 130.0 ± 15.7 μm, 64.0 ± 10.6 μm, 130.0 ± 21.9 μm. Statistically significant differences were found for the maximum interference distance and average interference distance (both p < 0.05).<br> Conclusions: The functional occlusal surfaces for each form of mastication demonstrated interference with the functional surface of frontal/lateral mandibular translations. Thus, crown restorations of which the occlusal surfaces were adjusted and formed by frontal/lateral mandibular translations may interfere with mastication.