The quality and form of a human mandible is genetically determined. The aim of this interdisciplinary research was to open a new way to virtual anatomical analysis of the mandible, and so far to make possibilities to use this method for visualizing and analyzing injuries and orthognathic procedures.
Materials and methods:
Generally reconstruction of an individual mandible anatomy requires the use of CT scans of the patient. Bony material, teeth, the load of surrounding muscles has to be considered in imaging procedure and stress analysis. In our study a three dimensional finite element mandible model was generated using traditional axial CT scans of DICOM format. This model had osseous qualities about densitometric data of literature. Direction of tension forces of masticatory and suprahyoideal muscular origin were pointed out, thus the model was loaded with them. Stress patterns and micro-dislocation of the bone itself were visualized in the mandible.
Results:
Evaluation results confirmed the basic principle of facial bone biomechanics established by Champy and correspondence was found to the earlier static or virtually generated model experiments.
Conclusion:
Comparing our experiments to the base araldite model of Champy, the main difference was the utilization of a closely real-time three dimensional rendering of any living patient's bone geometry. This way a new aspect of anatomical approach of individual human mandible can be achieved. The other new advantage of our method was, thus a motion picture could be created using this method, so strain patterns and visualized micro dislocation of the virtual bone could be presented, and this way experiments were repeatable. Our method could open a new aspect of anatomical education of mandible and midface.