Stability of the mandibular position in occlusion of mandibulectomy patients with lateral discontinuity defect

In mandibulectomy patients with lateral discontinuity defect, the mandible is severely deviated and the occlusion is considered to be unstable. A thorough understanding of the mandibular occlusal position of these patients is important to achieve desirable results in their occlusal rehabilitation. This study compared the stability of the mandibular positions in occlusion, when the opening distance or the biting force was changed during mandibular movements, by simultaneously measuring four points on the mandible three-dimensionally. This study indicated that the mandibular positions in occlusion of these patients were extremely unstable as compared with those of the normal subjects and were considerably different from each other when the opening distance or the biting force was changed during mandibular movements.