Characterization of Digital Jaw Tracking Values in Prosthetic Rehabilitations: A Case Series

Background/Objectives: To characterize clinical values obtained from a digital jaw tracking system during the functional assessment of mandibular movements in patients undergoing prosthetic rehabilitation. Methods: Ten patients undergoing prosthetic rehabilitation were included. Mandibular movements were recorded using the Zebris JMA Jaw Tracking System and measurements including maximum mouth opening, lateral excursions, protrusion, and condylar path length. Descriptive analyses were performed. Quantitative parameters were summarized as mean ± standard deviation and range and compared with normative values reported in the literature. Results: Ten participants completed mandibular kinematics registration (8 female, 2 male). Considerable interindividual variability was observed across all parameters. Mean maximum opening was 38.19 ± 10.99 mm (range 22.5-59.6 mm), mean protrusion 5.79 ± 4.47 mm (range 3.0-17.8 mm), mean right lateral excursion 6.56 ± 3.06 mm, and mean left lateral excursion 4.90 ± 2.11 mm. Lateral asymmetry was identified in 5 out of 10 patients. Bilateral condylar path length asymmetry had a mean of 3.59 ± 1.89 mm. Conclusions: Values obtained through the jaw tracking system demonstrated considerable interindividual variability in this prosthetic rehabilitation population. These preliminary findings support the need for further research to characterize normative kinematic values in this specific population and to evaluate the clinical impact of integrating jaw tracking data into prosthetic planning workflows.