TY - EJOU AU - Martinez, Simon AU - Lenz, Jürgen AU - Schindler, Hans AU - Wendler, Willi AU - Rues, Stefan AU - Schweizerhof, Karl AU - Terebesi, Sophia AU - Giannakopoulos, Nikolaos Nikitas AU - Schmitter, Marc TI - Clinical Data-Driven Finite Element Analysis of the Kinetics of Chewing Cycles in Order to Optimize Occlusal Reconstructions T2 - Computer Modeling in Engineering \& Sciences PY - 2021 VL - 129 IS - 3 SN - 1526-1506 AB - The occlusal design plays a decisive role in the fabrication of dental restorations. Dentists and dental technicians depend on mechanical simulations of mandibular movement that are as accurate as possible, in particular, to produce interference-free yet chewing-efficient dental restorations. For this, kinetic data must be available, i.e., movements and deformations under the influence of forces and stresses. In the present study, so-called functional data were collected from healthy volunteers to provide consistent information for proper kinetics. For the latter purpose, biting and chewing forces, electrical muscle activity and jaw movements were registered synchronously, and individual magnetic resonance tomograms (MRI) were prepared. The acquired data were then added to a large complex finite element model of the complete masticatory system using the functional information obtained and individual anatomical geometries so that the kinetics of the chewing process and teeth grinding could be realistically simulated. This allows developing algorithms that optimize computer-aided manufacturing of dental prostheses close to occlusion. In this way, a failure-free function of the dental prosthesis can be guaranteed and its damage during usage can be reduced or prevented even including endosseous implants. KW - Occlusal design; mechanical simulations of mandibular movement; finite element model of the complete masticatory system; simulation of chewing process and teeth grinding DO - 10.32604/cmes.2021.017422