OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy of occlusal contacts simulated by virtual craniofacial movement simulation system, and to provide theoretical basis for its application.

METHODSTen pairs of plaster dental casts were fabricated, and mounted on Kavo PROTA 7 articulator. Lateral movement was produced on the articulator. Then each pair of the casts on the articulator was scanned three dimensionally and used as the reference model. The movement of the articulator was simulated using the virtual craniofacial movement simulation system. Then, the digital casts were established on the simulation system and used as the test model. To evaluate the accuracy of the simulation system, positional differences between the simulated and the reference lower dentition were compared.

RESULTSThe mean value of the absolute average distance between the simulated and reference lower dentition was (0.18 ± 0.05) mm. Among the left, right, anterior and posterior areas of the dentition, the maximum mean value of the absolute average distance between the simulated and the reference model was found in the right posterior area, which was (0.19 ± 0.07) mm.

CONCLUSIONSThe in vitro accuracy of occlusal contacts simulated by virtual craniofacial movement simulation system is 0.19 mm, and this could be a reference data for the practical application of this system.