A preliminary report on a computer-assisted dental cast analysis system used for the prosthodontic treatment

To accomplish computerized 3D morphological analyses of maxillary and mandibular casts with malocclusions on the same co-ordinate system, a new reference co-ordinate located on soft tissue has been proposed consisting of the top of maxillary bilateral tubercles and incisive papilla on the maxillary cast. To test the validity of this co-ordinate system, the angles of the occlusal plane in this system were examined on 10 subjects with normal occlusion. In addition, to analyse maxillary and mandibular casts on the same co-ordinate system, a bite block was made under the intercuspal position. The maxillary cast was measured by 3D measuring system, then, the bite block was placed on maxillary casts, and measured similarly. To examine the position reproducibility of this method, 3D co-ordinates of the apex of the buccal cusp of the mandibular pre-molar in five bite blocks were determined. The angles formed of the occlusal plane were 1.3 +/- 1.3 degrees and 0.2 +/- 1.1 degrees on the sagittal and frontal base plane, respectively. This co-ordinate system had enough stability to replace the occlusal plane. By the measurement of bite blocks, the co-ordinates of the mandibular cusp tips were determined within the deviation of 0.2 mm.