Dynamic simulation of the jaw and chewing muscles for maxillofacial surgery

The need for simulation in medical environments increases with the complexity and risks of operations. Exact geometric planning is one of the main problems a surgeon has to deal with. The goal of the authors' research is the development of a graphical simulation of the human mastication system. Therefore, they are developing an integrated model of the jaw by parameterizing the bones (maxilla and mandible) and modeling the motion capabilities as well as the mastication muscles. The main focus of the paper is the introduction of a kinematic model of the temporomandibular joint and modeling of the mastication muscles. The kinematic model describes the geometrical and analytical movement of the jaw by specially defined axes. By modifying the axes or the geometrical model of the mandible, a surgeon can get a first impression of the post-operative result of, for example, a repositioning. Through integration of the muscles and muscle forces, one can even obtain a dynamic simulation of the whole mastication system.