View source for Jaw movements analysis. Part 1: Electrognathographic Replicator

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{{ArtBy|||autore=Gianni Frisardi|autore2=Flavio Frisardi}}



'''Abstract:''' The article delves into the diagnostic tools used for Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs), emphasizing the limitations of electrognathographic devices like the Sirognathograph. It traces the origins of this research to critical studies from the mid-1990s, such as Lund's work, which criticized the validity of certain TMD diagnostic methods. The Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) were developed to standardize TMD diagnosis by eliminating many instrumental diagnostic methods that lacked clinical validation.

The article highlights key problems with these instruments, such as their inability to measure rotational movements, inaccuracies due to low sampling frequencies, and inadequate engineering modeling. Specifically, the Sirognathograph fails to capture angular data, essential for accurate mandibular kinematics, as it reduces the degrees of freedom required for such measurements. Modifications to the instrument are proposed to improve its diagnostic utility, particularly by increasing the sampling frequency. However, even with modifications, these instruments are unsuitable for fully representing the complex movements involved in TMDs.

The article concludes that while these devices are inadequate for clinical diagnosis of TMDs, they may still have a role in the differential diagnosis of orofacial pain linked to neurological conditions. It suggests that future research should focus on refining diagnostic instruments to better align with clinical needs and proposes the exploration of the Condylar Hinge Axis in upcoming chapters.