Jaw tracking device and methods of analysis of patient’s specific TMJ kinematics

Abstract

The recording of the patient’s jaw motion is not a new problem – history shows dentists have used various devices. The Jaw Tracking Device, developed and presented here, comprises of a computerized mechanical system instrumented with sensor technology and a man-machine interface to provide a quick, friendly and reliable setup for both doctors as well as patients. This system is used to conduct, acquire, store and analyze movement of the lower jaw as well as the temporo-mandibular joint. Scanning models for both jaws using intraoral or stationary scanners will develop two STL meshes associated with this specific patient. The ability to display and analyze the motion of the patient’s jaw presented by STL models has been extended to the area of volumetric information in form of DICOM obtained during CBCT process. Combination of STL and DICOM images driven by the same kinematics of the TMJ allows researchers to see the interaction between the internal parts of the joint without use of invasive methods under “in vivo” process and with a minimum exposure of X-ray.