[Preliminary study on three digital analysis methods for analyzing the distribution and area of occlusal contacts].

Objective: To analyze the distribution and area of occlusal contacts of clinical dental model using three kinds of digital analysis methods, to compare the results of these methods and traditional occlusal analysis method, and to further analyze the characteristics of each digital analysis method.
Methods: A set of plaster models of normal subjects was selected. The models were scanned by lab scanner 3shape E4 and the files were exported in a stereolithography file format. In 3D analysis software Geomagic Studio 2013 and Geomagic Qualify 2013, the corresponding results of 3D occlusal contact distribution and occlusal contact area were obtained through three digital analysis methods: "3D color difference map method", "point cloud analysis method", and "virtual articulating paper method". The occlusal contact distribution and occlusal contact area were also obtained by two traditional occlusal analysis methods: "silicone interocclusal recording material method" and "scanned articulating paper mark method". A threshold of 100 μm was used to analyze the occlusal contacts and 100 μm was also the thickness of articulating paper used in this study. The results of these five different occlusal analysis methods were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively.
Results: The results of 3D occlusal contact distribution obtained by the above five methods were basically consistent. The total occlusal contact area obtained by 3D color difference map method, point cloud analysis method, virtual articulating paper method, silicone interocclusal recording material method and scanned articulating paper mark method were 133.10 mm², 142.08 mm², 128.95 mm², 163.31 mm², and 100.55 mm² respectively. There was little difference between the results of three digital analysis methods. The results of occlusal contact area obtained by the digital methods and the traditional methods were different.
Conclusion: The three digital analysis methods can provide reliable and accurate analysis results of occlusal contact distribution and occlusal contact area of dental model. The results obtained by these methods can serve as references for the digital occlusal surface design of dental prosthesis and clinical occlusal analysis.