Virtual articulator for the analysis of dental occlusion: An update

Abstract

The future of dental practice is closely linked to the utilization of computer-based technology, specifically virtual reality, which allows the dental surgeon to simulate true life situations in patients. The virtual articulator has been designed for the exhaustive analysis of static and dynamic occlusion, with the purpose of substituting mechanical articulators and avoiding their errors. These tools will help both odontologists and dental prosthetists to provide the best individualized treatment for each patient. The present review analyzes the studies published in the literature on the design, functioning and applications of virtual articulators. A Medline-PubMed search was made of dental journals, with the identification of 137 articles, of which 16 were finally selected. The virtual articulator can simulate the specific masticatory movement of the patient. During mandibular animation, the program calculates the sites where the opposing teeth come into contact. The studies made to assess the reliability of the virtual articulator show good correspondence in visualization of the number and position of the dynamic contacts. The virtual articulator is a precise tool for the full analysis of occlusion in a real patient. Key words: Virtual articulator, dental occlusion, dental articulator.

Setting the Sagittal Condylar Inclination on a Virtual Articulator Using Intraoral Scan of Protrusive Interocclusal Position and Cone Beam Computed Tomography

“…In this technique, possible errors can occur in the scanning and superimposition procedures; however, it is easier to check and correct these errors than correcting errors during a manual mounting process, or accounting for the expansion of plaster in the conventional method . In step 5, DICOM files of the CBCT images were converted to a 3D image with adjusting the surface threshold based on the bone first, following which the superimposition was performed.…”

Occlusion in the digital era: a report on 3 cases

“…As for computerized design, new scanners have virtual articulators that enable the creation of a virtual design as much adapted occlusally as possible. These virtual articulators can perform condylar programming through computerized methods such as axiography, facial scanning or digital analysis of condylar movements [7][8][9][10][11]. Other computerized occlusal analysis determines simultaneously the first occlusal contacts, their evolution in time, as well as the intensity of forces during all mandibular movements [12,13].…”

Simulation of dental collisions and occlusal dynamics in the virtual environment

“…Today, scanning and computer assisted design and manufacture (CAD/CAM) service providers commonly offer alternatives to conventional semi‐adjustable articulators . Intra‐oral scans of preparations, arch segments and/or of complete arches are usually supplemented by buccal surface scans in the intercuspal position (ICP), a primary functional relationship used in CAD/CAM restorations.…”

“…These sites were confirmed as closely approximating via measurements made from homologous transilluminated vinylpolysiloxane interocclusal impressions in the mounted casts. Movements between the indexed Introduction Today, scanning and computer assisted design and manufacture (CAD/CAM) service providers commonly offer alternatives to conventional semi-adjustable articulators (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Intra-oral scans of preparations, arch segments and/or of complete arches are usually supplemented by buccal surface scans in the intercuspal position (ICP), a primary functional relationship used in CAD/CAM restorations.…”