Synchronization of patient study models in the articulator

The first article in this series described the development of a new method of dental functional analysis called the PlaneSystem (Zirkonzahn, Gais, Italy), which enables the exact transfer of clinical parameters from the patient's mouth to the articulator. Among the issues discussed was the context of the need out of which this system emerged. Background knowledge of the stages of research and development promotes a deeper understanding of the topic at hand, a major focus of which is the tapping into a wealth of patient-specific data collected by the analog route (including information on head posture; facial proportions; the physiognomic map; analysis of the study model; orientation of the study model; jaw movement recording; joint mechanics; and the non-manipulated, physiologic position of the mandible in centric relation). The new system registers the individual patient's occlusal plane and asymmetries as well as the vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) and mandibular alignment, and accurately transfers this positional information to the articulator. This article, the second in the series, focuses on the digital processes involved in this process. All physically collected patient data can be integrated into the digital workflow and referenced to purely virtual solutions. Mandibular movements can be recorded and transferred to a physical or virtual articulator using the JMAnalyser+ (Zebris Medical GmbH, Isny, Germany) interface integrated into the PlaneSystem. This allows for the reconstruction of dynamic contact relationships relative to the referenced position of the maxilla. Keywords: occlusal plane, articulator, mandibular position, maxillary position, PlaneFinder, centric, functional analysis, bite registration, vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO), dental technology-related analysis