Occlusal Contact Area of Mandibular Teeth During Lateral Excursion

Purpose: This study observed occlusal contacts and determined their areas on the mandibular teeth, especially the molars, during voluntary lateral excursions. Materials and Methods: Occlusal contact areas were estimated with a measurement system combining 3-D tracking of mandibular movements with 3-D digitization of tooth shape. Sixteen women with sound permanent dentitions participated. Results: At the intercuspal position, estimated occlusal contact areas of the first and second mandibular molars were on average 12.6 mm2 and 9.0 mm2, respectively. However, after 3.0 mm of lateral excursion, their areas were sharply reduced to 2.2 mm2 and 1.5 mm2 on the working side, and 0.4 mm2 and 1.1 mm2 on the nonworking side, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that the occlusal contact areas on working- and nonworking-side molars differ from each other as lateral excursion proceeds.