Analysis of the chewing movement in temporomandibular disorders

Chewing and border movements at the mandibular incisor points were recorded three dimentionally by the mandibular tracking device (Saphon). Data were recorded from 71 patients (16 males and 55 females) with temporomandibular (TM) disorders and 20 normal subjects (15 males and 5 females). In TM disorders, a narrowed range of motion in various border movements, as well as an irregularity in chewing rhythm, narrowed the range of motion, and reduced reproducibility in the pattern of chewing movements, were observed.