[A proposed prototype for recording and analysis of mandibular movement: the Cinétic]

The investigation of means of recording mandibular movement has aroused the interest of a considerable number of researchers. Their own devices, increasingly ingenious, all display certain advantages and shortcomings. The need for a device more appropriate to the needs of day-to-day odontological use has been felt for some time. By giving a broad explanation of how it works, we have tried to assess the possibilities of the proposed prototype, the Cinetic. It measures movement of the dentalium in all three dimensions simultaneously. Since its reliability, when tested by a study concerning a sample of 40 patients, proved entirely satisfactory, a more sophisticated version was promptly devised. This latest Cinetic allows the ROZENCWEIG dyskinesia index, to be calculated, the FARRAR diagram to be drawn, and the mastication movements to be analysed by giving a visual display of the mandibular opening and closing trajectories, the speed diagram, the duration of the cycle, mandibular velocity and acceleration, and a breakdown of the cycles for each respective side. In order to be fully competitive, the Cinetic lacks the capacity to record and analyse condylar movement. Work on incorporating these features is currently at an experimental stage.