A method of transferring mandibular-movement data to computer storage.

A method was briefly described which photographed engraved blocks of mandibular-movement recordings and transferred the information into computer memory. A photographic platform was designed to allow uniform photographing of the engraved blocks. The photographed information was then projected onto graph paper where it was traced. The traced information, with the centric point labeled, was transferred into computer memory via a Computek 531 tablet. An RMS (root-mean-squared) deviation test was conducted to estimate the reliability of this technique. The maximum deviation (0.363 mm.) was found for z coordinate of the left-side recording. Labeling the centric point in computer memory is very important. This allows careful and detailed study of movements in the area where clinical evaluation is of utmost importance to the dentist. As more data are collected and evaluated, questions related to occlusion, such as tooth stability, effect on periodontal health, relationship to orthodontic success, and the like, may be clarified.