The interrelationship between bolus breakdown, mandibular first molar displacement and jaw movement during mastication

The purpose of this study was to clarify the interrelationship between food bolus breakdown, mandibular first molar displacement and jaw movement during mastication. Finite element models were constructed of the maxillary first molar crown, the mandibular first molar consisting of crown, root, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone, as well as the food bolus were constructed. Based on the actual measurement of the jaw movement pattern and the characteristics of food bolus, the patterns of mandibular first molar displacement and bolus breakdown on time course in the progress of mastication were simulated, to investigate the biomechanical significance of tooth displacement and jaw movement during mastication, using finite element non-linear dynamic analysis. The results showed that the patterns of tooth displacement and jaw movement and characteristics of food bolus changed with an interrelationship to each other as mastication progressed. Particularly at the initial phase, it was suggested that the patterns of mandibular first molar displacement and jaw movement worked inter-dependently to accomplish an efficient hard-bolus breakdown.