U.S. patent application number 13/589434 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-28 for occlusal wear evaluation apparatus and occlusal wear evaluation method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Yusei KADOBAYASHI, Masako Shigezawa, Keiji Takahashi. Invention is credited to Yusei KADOBAYASHI, Masako Shigezawa, Keiji Takahashi.
Application Number | 20130054190 13/589434 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46793910 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130054190 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KADOBAYASHI; Yusei ; et
al. |
February 28, 2013 |
OCCLUSAL WEAR EVALUATION APPARATUS AND OCCLUSAL WEAR EVALUATION
METHOD
Abstract
An occlusal wear evaluation apparatus capable of evaluating
quantitatively an occlusal wear of a used denture reads three
dimensional data of a denture before use and three dimensional data
of the denture after use, calculates a difference in a set value of
an articulator allowing the maxillary dental arch and the
mandibular dental arch of the denture to occlude between the
denture before use and the denture after use, by way of simulating
movements of a jaw in the articulator with the three dimensional
data of the denture before use and the three dimensional data of
the denture after use, and indicates the calculated difference.
Inventors: |
KADOBAYASHI; Yusei;
(Kyoto-shi, JP) ; Shigezawa; Masako; (Kyoto-shi,
JP) ; Takahashi; Keiji; (Kyoto-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KADOBAYASHI; Yusei
Shigezawa; Masako
Takahashi; Keiji |
Kyoto-shi
Kyoto-shi
Kyoto-shi |
|
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
46793910 |
Appl. No.: |
13/589434 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
702/155 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C 19/05 20130101;
A61C 19/04 20130101; A61C 11/00 20130101; G16H 50/50 20180101; A61C
13/0004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
702/155 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/00 20060101
G06F015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 23, 2011 |
JP |
2011-181796 |
Claims
1. An occlusal wear evaluation apparatus comprising an input
device, an arithmetic device and a display device, wherein the
input device is configured to input three dimensional data of a
denture before use and three dimensional data of the denture after
use into the arithmetic device, the arithmetic device is configured
to calculate a set value of an articulator allowing the maxillary
dental arch and the mandibular dental arch of the denture to
occlude for each of the denture before use and the denture after
use by way of simulating movements of a jaw in the articulator with
the three dimensional data of the denture before use and the three
dimensional data of the denture after use, to calculate a
difference in the set value between the denture before use and the
denture after use, the set value including at least one of a
distance between condyle paths, a distance between a maxillary
dental arch and a mandibular dental arch, an inclination of a
sagittal condylar path, an angle of a balancing side lateral
condylar path, an amount of an immediate side shift, an angle of a
working side lateral condylar path, an inclination of sagittal
incisal path, and a guidance angle of a lateral incisal path, and
the display device is configured to indicate the difference in the
set value calculated by the arithmetic device.
2. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the arithmetic device is configured to calculate a relative
angle between the maxillary dental arch and the mandibular dental
arch of the denture in a centric occlusal position, and the display
device is configured to indicate the relative angle calculated by
the arithmetic device.
3. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the arithmetic device is configured to calculate a relative
position between the maxillary dental arch and the mandibular
dental arch of the denture in a centric occlusal position, and the
display device is configured to indicate the relative position
calculated by the arithmetic device.
4. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the arithmetic device is configured to calculate at least
one of a relative moving distance and a relative moving angle of a
sliding movement of the maxillary teeth and the mandibular teeth of
the denture from a first occlusal condition to a second occlusal
condition, and the display device is configured to indicate at
least one of the relative moving distance and the relative moving
angle calculated by the arithmetic device.
5. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the arithmetic device is configured to calculate a volume
of the denture, and the display device is configured to indicate
the volume calculated by the arithmetic device.
6. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the arithmetic device is further configured to calculate a
height of a cusp of the denture, and the display device is
configured to indicate the height of the cusp calculated by the
arithmetic device.
7. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the arithmetic device is further configured to calculate an
angular difference of planes which represent a certain area of the
denture, and the display device is configured to indicate the
angular difference calculated by the arithmetic device.
8. An occlusal wear evaluation apparatus comprising an input
device, an arithmetic device and a display device, wherein the
input device is configured to input three dimensional data of a
plurality of dentures used by a same patient into the arithmetic
device, the arithmetic device is configured to calculate a set
value of an articulator allowing the maxillary dental arch and the
mandibular dental arch of the denture to occlude for the each
denture, by way of simulating movements of a jaw in the articulator
with the three dimensional data of the dentures, the set value
including at least one of a distance between condyle paths, a
distance between maxillary dental arch and a mandibular dental
arch, an inclination of a sagittal condylar path, an angle of a
balancing side lateral condylar path, an amount of an immediate
side shift, an angle of a working side lateral condylar path, an
inclination of a sagittal incisal path and a guidance angle of a
lateral incisal path, and the display device is configured to
indicate the set values calculated by the arithmetic device in a
time series chart.
9. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the arithmetic device is configured to calculate a relative
angle between the maxillary dental arch and the mandibular dental
arch of the denture in a centric occlusal position, and the display
device is configured to indicate the relative angle calculated by
the arithmetic device.
10. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein the arithmetic device is configured to calculate a relative
position between the maxillary dental arch and the mandibular
dental arch of the denture in a centric occlusal position, and the
display device is configured to indicate the relative position
calculated by the arithmetic device.
11. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein the arithmetic device is configured to calculate at least
one of a relative moving distance and a relative moving angle of a
sliding movement of the maxillary teeth and the mandibular teeth of
the denture from a first occlusal condition to a second occlusal
condition, and the display device is configured to indicate at
least one of the relative moving distance and the relative moving
angle calculated by the arithmetic device.
12. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein the arithmetic device is configured to calculate a volume
of the denture, and the display device is configured to indicate
the volume calculated by the arithmetic device.
13. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein the arithmetic device is further configured to calculate a
height of a cusp of the denture, and the display device is
configured to indicate the height of the cusp calculated by the
arithmetic device.
14. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein the arithmetic device is further configured to calculate an
angular difference of planes which represent a certain area of the
denture, and the display device is configured to indicate the
angular difference calculated by the arithmetic device.
15. An occlusal wear evaluation method comprising inputing three
dimensional data of a denture before use and three dimensional data
of the denture after use into a computer, calculating a set value
of an articulator allowing a maxillary dental arch and a mandibular
dental arch of the denture to occlude for each of the denture
before use and the denture after use by way of simulating movements
of a jaw in the articulator with the three dimensional data of the
denture before use and the three dimensional data of the denture
after use on the computer, to calculate a difference in the set
value between the denture before use and the denture after use, the
set value including at least one of a distance between condyle
paths, a distance between a maxillary dental arch and a mandibular
dental arch, an inclination of a sagittal condylar path, an angle
of a balancing side lateral condylar path, an amount of an
immediate side shift, an angle of a working side lateral condylar
path, an inclination of sagittal incisal path, and a guidance angle
of a lateral incisal path, and indicating the calculated deference
on a screen.
16. An occlusal wear evaluation method comprising inputing three
dimensional data of a plurality of denture used by a same patient
into a computer, calculating a set value of an articulator allowing
the maxillary dental arch and the mandibular dental arch of the
denture to occlude for the each denture by way of simulating
movements of a jaw in the articulator with the three dimensional
data of the dentures on the computer, the set value including at
least one of a distance between condyle paths, a distance between
maxillary dental arch and a mandibular dental arch, an inclination
of a sagittal condylar path, an angle of a balancing side lateral
condylar path, an amount of an immediate side shift, an angle of a
working side lateral condylar path, an inclination of a sagittal
incisal path and a guidance angle of a lateral incisal path, and
indicating the calculated set values in a time series chart on a
screen.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an occlusal wear evaluation
apparatus and an occlusal wear evaluation method.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Generally, a denture should be re-configured periodically.
Because, a condition in an oral cavity and a muscle force of a
patient change over time, an optimum denture for the patient can
not be made by only reconstructing a shape before occlusal wear
(abrasion due to dental occlusion) of a presently used denture.
Therefore, a dental technician observes a condition of the occlusal
wear of the used denture to image an optimum shape of a denture for
the patient so as to determine detailed configuration of a denture
to be newly made. For instance, in a case of that the used denture
has been unevenly worn, a cusp is adjusted in its shape and
position so that a particularly worn part will be hard to be worn
and the other part will be easy to be worn.
[0003] When making a denture in such way, a detailed configuration
of the denture is determined in a seat of the pants approach by a
doctor or a dental technician. Therefore, an apparatus that can
evaluate quantitatively an occlusal wear of a used denture is
desired in order to allow even a less-experienced doctor or dental
technician to determine an optimum denture configuration for a
patient.
[0004] With respect to a denture configuration, JP 2005-329055 A
describes a system scanning three dimensional shape of teeth and
indicating the shape of the teeth on a computer, and JP 2004-195152
A describes replicating or simulating an occlusal condition on a
computer using three dimensional data of maxillary tooth and
mandibular tooth. And, JP 2007-111519 A describes a system that
indicates teeth in a predetermined view and at a predetermined
magnification on a screen.
SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The objects of the present invention is to provided an
occlusal wear evaluation apparatus and an occlusal wear evaluation
method that can evaluate quantitatively an occlusal wear of a used
denture.
[0006] In order to achieve the above object, according to the
present invention, it is provided a first aspect of an occlusal
wear evaluation apparatus comprising an input device, an arithmetic
device and a display device, wherein the input device is configured
to input three dimensional data of a denture before use and three
dimensional data of the denture after use into the arithmetic
device, the arithmetic device is configured to calculate a set
value of an articulator allowing the maxillary dental arch and the
mandibular dental arch of the denture to occlude for each of the
denture before use and the denture after use by way of simulating
movements of a jaw in the articulator with the three dimensional
data of the denture before use and the three dimensional data of
the denture after use, to calculate a difference in the set value
between the denture before use and the denture after use, the set
value including at least one of a distance between condyle paths, a
distance between a maxillary dental arch and a mandibular dental
arch, an inclination of a sagittal condylar path, an angle of a
balancing side lateral condylar path, an amount of an immediate
side shift, an angle of a working side lateral condylar path, an
inclination of sagittal incisal path, and a guidance angle of a
lateral incisal path, and the display device is configured to
indicate the difference in the set value calculated by the
arithmetic device.
[0007] And, according to the present invention, it is provided a
second aspect of an occlusal wear evaluation apparatus comprising
an input device, an arithmetic device and a display device, wherein
the input device is configured to input three dimensional data of a
plurality of dentures used by a same patient into the arithmetic
device, the arithmetic device is configured to calculate a set
value of an articulator allowing the maxillary dental arch and the
mandibular dental arch of the denture to occlude for the each
denture, by way of simulating movements of a jaw in the articulator
with the three dimensional data of the dentures, the set value
including at least one of a distance between condyle paths, a
distance between maxillary dental arch and a mandibular dental
arch, an inclination of a sagittal condylar path, an angle of a
balancing side lateral condylar path, an amount of an immediate
side shift, an angle of a working side lateral condylar path, an
inclination of a sagittal incisal path and a guidance angle of a
lateral incisal path, and the display device is configured to
indicate the set values calculated by the arithmetic device in a
time series chart.
[0008] In a denture, because a portion where is heavily used tends
to be greatly worn, a lot of jaws inclines when an occlusion due to
an uneven wear. Therefore, in the occlusal wear evaluation
apparatus according to the present invention, if a relative angle
between the maxillary dental arch and the mandibular dental arch of
the denture in a centric occlusal position is calculated, an
unevenness of the wear can be quantitatively recognized.
Accordingly, a countermeasure such as to reduce unevenness of wear
by increasing a contacting area in a mostly used portion can be
taken.
[0009] And, in the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to
the present invention, if a relative position between the maxillary
dental arch and the mandibular dental arch of the denture in a
centric occlusal position is calculated, variance of an occluding
position can be obtained.
[0010] And, in the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to
the present invention, if at least one of a relative moving
distance and a relative moving angle of a sliding movement between
the maxillary teeth and the mandibular teeth of the denture from a
first occlusal condition to a second occlusal condition is
calculated, a variance in a sliding movement of the teeth can be
determined.
[0011] And, in the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to
the present invention, if a volume of the denture is calculated, a
total worn amount can be recognized.
[0012] And, in the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to
the present invention, a height of a cusp which is often used as a
reference point may be calculated.
[0013] And, in the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to
the present invention, difference of angles of planes which
represent a certain area of the denture may be calculated.
[0014] Further, a first aspect of an occlusal wear evaluation
method according to the present invention comprises inputing three
dimensional data of a denture before use and three dimensional data
of the denture after use into a computer, calculating a difference
between the denture before use and the denture after use in a set
value of an articulator allowing the maxillary dental arch and the
mandibular dental arch of the denture to occlude, by way of
simulating movements of a jaw in the articulator with the three
dimensional data of the denture before use and the three
dimensional data of the denture after use on the computer, the set
value including at least one of a distance between condyle paths, a
distance between maxillary dental arch and a mandibular dental
arch, an inclination of a sagittal condylar path, an angle of a
balancing side lateral condylar path, an amount of an immediate
side shift, an angle of a working side lateral condylar path, an
inclination of a sagittal incisal path and a guidance angle of a
lateral incisal path which are set values, and indicating the
calculated deference on a screen.
[0015] Further, a second aspect of an occlusal wear evaluation
method according to the present invention comprises inputing three
dimensional data of a plurality of denture used by a same patient
into a computer, calculating a set value of an articulator allowing
the maxillary dental arch and the mandibular dental arch of the
denture to occlude for the each denture by way of simulating
movements of a jaw in the articulator with the three dimensional
data of the dentures on the computer, the set value including at
least one of a distance between condyle paths, a distance between
maxillary dental arch and a mandibular dental arch, an inclination
of a sagittal condylar path, an angle of a balancing side lateral
condylar path, an amount of an immediate side shift, an angle of a
working side lateral condylar path, an inclination of a sagittal
incisal path and a guidance angle of a lateral incisal path, and
indicating the calculated set values in a time series chart on a
screen.
[0016] According to the present invention, a wear of a denture due
to use. is quantified to be indicated, and therefore a correct
diagnosis and a re-design of a denture can be made.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an occlusal
wear evaluation apparatus as an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an example of a screen indication of the occlusal
wear evaluation apparatus in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a denture before use evaluated
on the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a denture after use evaluated
on the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 5 is an example of a chart indicated on the occlusal
wear evaluation apparatus in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention is
described with referring drawings. An occlusal wear evaluation
apparatus according to the present invention can be realized using
a computer system that comprises an arithmetic device 1, a data
input device 2, a display device 3 and a user input device 4 as
shown in FIG. 1.
[0023] The arithmetic device 1 can be substantialized using a
personal computer and a software program, while the arithmetic
device 1 may be exclusively designed. The data input device 2 can
be not only an apparatus such as three dimensional scanner reading
directory three dimensional shape, but also a device for inputting
three dimensional data which is read by an external three
dimensional scanner and the like into the arithmetic device 1, such
as a media reading device, for instance a memory device or a disc
drive, or a data communication device. The display device 3 may be
a common display. As the user input device 4, a generalized input
device such as a keyboard and a mouse can be used.
[0024] The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to the
present invention uses the data input device 2 to input three
dimensional data of a denture before use and three dimensional data
of the same denture which has been used by a patient and worn, into
the arithmetic device 1, and calculates variations in various
physical quantities of the denture between before and after use so
as to indicate on the display device 3.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen indication of the
display device 3. In this example, a sectional display portion 5
for indicating a sectional view of the denture is arranged in an
upper left part of the screen, a result display portion 6 for
indicating differences in physical quantities of the denture before
and after use is arranged in a lower left part of the screen, and a
general display portion 7 for indicating the entire denture
schematically and specifying a position of a cross-section
indicated in the sectional display portion 5 is arranged in right
part of the screen.
[0026] The sectional display portion 5 indicates a sectional shape
of the denture after use and a sectional shape of the same denture
before use at the same position in an overlaid manner with
different line types and/or colors. As an example, in FIG. 2, a
sectional shape of a denture after use is indicated by solid lines,
and an outline of a cross-section of the same denture before use
sectioned at the same position is indicated by dashed lines.
Thereby, a wear of the denture in a certain cross-section is
visualized in an understandable manner.
[0027] The result display portion 6 indicates a difference in
physical quantities between a denture before use and the denture
after use (variations due to an occlusal wear). The differences in
physical quantities calculated by the arithmetic device 1 and
indicated in the result display portion 6 include a variation in a
relative angle between a maxillary dental arch and a mandibular
dental arch, a variation in a relative position between a specific
reference point of a maxillary dental arch and a specific reference
point of a mandibular dental arch (such as an occlusal vertical
dimension).
[0028] The physical quantities indicated in the result display
portion 6 include a relative moving distance and a relative moving
angle in a sliding movement between a maxillary teeth and a
mandibular teeth from a first occlusal condition (for instance, a
centric occlusal position) to a second occlusal condition (for
instance, a lateral occlusal position), a volume of a denture and a
height of a cusp. The differences in physical quantities indicated
in the result display portion 6 may further include an angular
difference (a variation in a direction of a normal line) of planes
which represent a certain area of the denture, for instance, planes
approximated by the method of least-square, and the like.
[0029] Further, the variations indicated in the result display
portion 6 may include differences between before and after use in
physical quantities (for instance, sectional area and height) in
the cross-section indicated on the sectional display portion 5.
[0030] Further, the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus preferably
simulates movements of a jaw in an articulator by the arithmetic
device 1 so that variations in set values (for instance, a distance
between condyle paths, a distance between maxillary dental arch and
a mandibular dental arch, an inclination of a sagittal condylar
path, an angle of a balancing side lateral condylar path, an amount
of an immediate side shift, an angle of a working side lateral
condylar path, an inclination of a sagittal incisal path and a
guidance angle of a lateral incisal path) in the articulator can be
calculated to be indicated on the result display portion 6.
[0031] The general display portion 7 is mainly intended to be
utilized by a user to determine a cross-sectional position to be
indicated on the sectional display portion 5, thorough the user
input device 4. Therefore, the general display portion 7 is to show
dental arches schematically, and not required to show any specific
shape based on an actual data. The display on the sectional display
portion preferably is successively renewed together with a
relocation of the cross-sectional position determined in the
general display portion 7. While it is also idealistic that the
indication in the result display portion 6 is successively renewed
together with a relocation of the cross-sectional position, the
indication in the result display portion 6 may be renewed at a
timing designated by a user via the user input device 4, so as to
reduce an arithmetic load for the arithmetic device 1.
[0032] The general display portion 7 indicates bar handles for
moving cursors on the screen using the user input device 4 so as to
move and rotate the displayed dental arches in respective
directions of x, y, z, bar handles to designate a cross-sectional
position to be displayed in the sectional display portion 5 on the
dental arches displayed in the general display portion 7, and a bar
handle for zooming the display in the sectional display portion
5.
[0033] Further, the general display portion 7 preferably specifies
a position in which a difference of a physical quantity as
indicated in the result display portion 6 is maximized and is able
to indicate the position on the screen. For instance, a position of
a cusp which has most greatly varied in position, a tooth which has
most greatly changed in volume and others may be specified in a
manner of changing color, indicating a marker or the like.
[0034] FIG. 3 schematically shows a denture before use and FIG. 4
schematically shows the denture after use, in order to describe how
to utilize the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to the
present invention. The occlusal wear evaluation apparatus occludes
the three dimensional data of the maxillary teeth and three
dimensional data of the mandibular teeth respectively for the
denture before use and the denture after use so as to replicate
respective centric occlusal positions where contacting points are
maximized. Then, difference between a relative angle of the
mandibular dental arch with respect to the maxillary dental arch of
the denture before use and a relative angle of the mandibular
dental arch with respect to the maxillary dental arch of the
denture after use is calculated, as three angles in axial
directions of x, y, z, to be indicated in the result display
portion 6. For instance, x is a direction connecting both condyles,
y is a direction perpendicular to the x axis and parallel to the
occlusal plane, and z is a direction perpendicular to x and y.
[0035] Further, the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to
the present invention calculates relative positions of the
mandibular dental arch with respect to the maxillary dental arch
between the denture before use and the denture after use as in a
three distances in axial directions of x, y, z, and indicates the
distances in the result display portion 6. This change in relative
positions preferably is calculated in a manner assuming that three
points as center points of both condyle paths and a center point
between both cutting edges of central incisors are reference
points.
[0036] To this end, the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus
specifies positions of articular fossae with respect to the
maxillary teeth and positions of condyles with respect to the
mandibular teeth for the three dimensional data of the denture
before use. In this case, the articular fossae and the condyles in
the denture before use are determined so that the articular fossae
and the condyles respectively coincide with each other in the
centric occlusal position. For the denture after use, positions of
articular fossae and positions of condyles are calculated with
assuming that the relative position between the maxillary teeth and
the articular fossae and relative position between condyles and the
mandibular teeth specified for the denture before use do not
change.
[0037] Notably, the positions of the reference points on the
maxillary teeth and the positions of the reference points on the
mandibular teeth coincide in FIG. 3, and therefore relative
positions between the reference points on the maxillary teeth and
the reference points are equal to the variations between the FIG. 3
and FIG. 4.
[0038] A denture in which relative angle between the maxilla and
the mandible does not vary due to an occlusal wear is considered as
being in an ideal condition where abrasions are even without an
uneven wear. And, a change in a position of the condyle of the
denture with respect to the articular fossa due to an occlusal wear
is considered as suggesting a possibility of a temporomandibular
arthrosis. Therefore, these figures give great indications to
evaluate whether or not the denture is adapted to the patient.
[0039] Also, a change in height of cusp of each tooth gives an
indication to make a diagnosis of an occlusion. Specifically,
variations of heights of a buccal cusp of mandibular first molar
and a mesiolingual cusp of maxillary first molar give indications
of variation in an occlusal vertical dimension.
[0040] Further, the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus can
determine and indicate a portion with a large variation between
before and after use, i.e. a largely worn portion, so as to notify
a doctor or a technician of a position to be especially
attended.
[0041] Further, in a case where a volume of the denture is
significantly reduced, a crunching (unintentional biting) is
suspected.
[0042] Further, the occlusal wear evaluation apparatus according to
the present invention preferably can indicate differences in a
physical quantity between before and after use in comparison among
plural dentures. FIG. 5 shows a chart of variations in a relative
angle between maxillary dental arches and mandibular dental arches
due to wear of the respective dentures which are remade for a same
patient every half year. In this example, the variation in the
relative angle gets smaller gradually, and therefore it can be
confirmed that newer denture is better adapted to the patient.
[0043] A variation in a relative angle between a maxillary dental
arch and a mandibular dental arch due to: occlusal wear can be
caused by an alteration of a configuration of a denture as well as
by a variation in masticatory ability due to change in muscle
strength or other reasons. Therefore, this information does not
lead an absolute conclusion directly, but is beneficial information
contributory to make an integrated diagnosis by a doctor with an
interview result and the like in mind.
REFERENCE SIGN LIST
[0044] 1 arithmetic device [0045] 2 data input device [0046] 3
display device [0047] 4 user input device [0048] 5 general display
portion [0049] 6 result display portion [0050] 7 sectional display
portion
* * * * *