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Journal of Peking University (Health Sciences) ›› 2026, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (1): 99-106. doi: 10.19723/j.issn.1671-167X.2026.01.013

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Digital measurement and analysis of anatomical characteristics of protrusive and intercuspal position occlusal contacts in maxillary incisors

Liang SHAO, Wenjie MA, Ying CHEN, Qian DING*(), Lei ZHANG*()   

  1. Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing 100081, China
  • Received:2025-10-10 Online:2026-01-06 Published:2026-01-06
  • Contact: Qian DING, Lei ZHANG
  • Supported by:
    the Clinical Research Foundation of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology(PKUSS-2023CRF503); the Program for New Clinical Techniques and Therapies of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology(PKUSSNCT-25A09); Beijing Natural Science Foundation-Haidian Original Innovation Joint Fund Project(L232025)

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Abstract:

Objective: To digitally measure and analyze the anatomical characteristics of protrusive and intercuspal position (ICP) occlusal contacts in maxillary incisors, thereby establishing a standardized measurement protocol and obtaining characteristic functional data to optimize the incisal guidance design of prostheses. Methods: Thirty subjects with stable incisal guidance were recruited. Digital dental mo-dels were acquired via intraoral scanning, and protrusive movement data were captured using a modified patient-specific motion (PSM) technique. Computer-aided design software was used to record the distribution of the occlusal contacts during protrusive movement. Image analysis software was employed to measure the area proportion of guiding locations for each tooth. Reverse engineering software was used to measure and analyze the occlusal contacts in ICP and anatomical characteristics. Measured parameters included the area proportion and distribution of occlusal contacts in ICP, the area proportion of marginal ridges and incisal ridges, radius of curvature of lingual surface, lingual surface inclination, overbite, and overjet. Each parameter was measured twice to calculate the intraclass correlation coefficient for the assessment of test-retest reliability. Results: All measured parameters demonstrated good test-retest reliability. No significant differences were found in any parameters between homologous teeth (P>0.05). During protrusive movement, the area proportion of guiding locations was significantly larger for the central incisors than for the lateral incisors (73.4%±12.3% vs. 26.6%±12.3%, P < 0.001). The frequency of occlusal contacts was significantly higher on the mesial and distal marginal ridges and incisal ridges compared with the lingual fossa and cingulum (P < 0.05). In ICP, no significant difference was observed in the occlusal contact area proportion between the central and lateral incisors (48.8%±20.0% vs. 51.2%±20.0%, P=0.758). The frequency of the occlusal contact was significantly higher on the mesial and distal marginal ridges compared with the incisal ridge, lingual fossa, and cingulum (P < 0.05). Central incisors exhibited significantly higher overbite and overjet than lateral incisors (P < 0.05). The area proportion of mesial and distal marginal ridges was significantly smaller for the central incisors than for the lateral incisors (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed in the incisal ridge (P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in the lingual surface inclination or radius of curvature among the incisors (P>0.05). Conclusion: The anatomical characteristics of protrusive and ICP occlusal contacts in maxillary incisors demonstrated bilateral symmetry. Protrusive movement was primarily guided by the maxillary central incisors, with the guiding area of the central incisors being approximately three times that of the lateral incisors. The marginal ridges and incisal ridges were the main guiding locations. Central and lateral incisors exhibited comparable occlusal contact area in ICP.

Key words: Odontometry, Incisor, Dental occlusion, Imaging, three-dimensional

CLC Number: 

  • R783

Figure 1

Adhesive bonding of artificial landmarks"

Figure 2

Measurement of the occlusal contacts in protrusive movement and intercuspal position A: Reproduce the mandibular protrusive movement by the patient-specific motion (PSM) function within the computer-aided design software (3Shape Dental System). B: Measure the area of the guiding locations (blue) during protrusive movement within the image analysis software (ImageJ Version 1.53q). C: Thicken the mandibular model occlusally by 200 μm by the Shell function within the reverse engineering software (Geomagic Wrap 2021); Obtain the intersection areas between the maxillary incisors and the mandibular dentition by the Boolean operation function, which was defined as the occlusal contact areas in intercuspal position (ICP). D: Measure the area of the occlusal contact areas (red) in ICP."

Figure 3

Measurement of lingual surface characteristics related to incisal guidance A: Generate the occlusal plane (plane 1) within Geomagic wrap 2021. B: Use the maxillary right central incisor as an example; Select the lingual surface and generate Plane 2 by the Best-Fit function. C: calculate the angle between Plane 2 and Plane 1, defined as the lingual surface inclination. D: Plot the curve based on the Curvature Map. E: Convert the curve into the boundary and calculate the areas of the marginal ridges and the incisal ridge. F: Select the central portion of the lingual surface, generate Circle 1 by the Best-Fit function, and calculate its radius."

Figure 4

Measurement of overbite and overjet A: Use the maxillary right central incisor as an example within Geomagic Wrap 2021; Move the occlusal plane until it is tangent to the incisal edge, generating Plane 1; Move Plane 1 until it is tangent to the incisal edge of the corresponding mandibular incisor, generating Plane 2; Calculate the distance between Plane 1 and Plane 2, defined as the overbite. B: Select the incisal third region of the labial surface and generate Plane 3 by the Best-Fit function, which is tangent to the labial surface; Translate Plane 3 parallel until it is tangent to the labial surface of the corresponding mandibular incisor, generating Plane 4; Calculate the distance between Plane 3 and Plane 4, defined as the overjet."

Table 1

Occlusal contact area proportion (%) of maxillary incisors in protrusive movement and intercuspal position"

Items Central incisor Lateral incisor
Left Right t P Left Right t P
Protrusive movement (n=30) 39.3±10.1 34.1±11.2 -1.632 0.113 15.0±7.5 11.7±8.0 -1.953 0.061
Intercuspal position (n=28) 26.2±14.8 22.6±14.5 -0.896 0.378 29.2±15.2 22.0±15.2 -1.332 0.194

Table 2

Frequency distribution (%) of occlusal contacts across the anatomical structures of the lingual surface (n=30)"

Items Central incisor Lateral incisor
Left Right Left Right
Protrusive movement
  Mesial marginal ridge 86.2 79.3 86.2 79.3
  Distal marginal ridge 75.9 62.1 69.0 44.8
  Incisal ridge 93.1 89.7 86.2 69.0
  Lingual fossa 24.1 24.1 3.5 6.9
  Lingual cingulum 0 3.5 0 0
  No occlusal contact 0 0 3.5 3.5
Intercuspal position
  Mesial marginal ridge 80.0 76.7 73.3 76.7
  Distal marginal ridge 70.0 56.7 53.3 40
  Incisal ridge 13.3 10.0 30.0 26.7
  Lingual fossa 20.0 20.0 13.3 3.3
  Lingual cingulum 3.3 0 0 0
  No occlusal contact 10.0 13.3 13.3 16.7

Table 3

Anatomical features of maxillary incisors related to incisal guidance (n=30)"

Items Central incisor Lateral incisor F P
Left Right Left Right
Area proportion/%
  Mesial marginal ridge 20.2±3.0 20.2±2.8 25.3±4.3 25.9±4.4 28.263 < 0.001
  Distal marginal ridge 21.5±2.8 20.6±2.7 24.3±4.3 22.9±3.8 9.990 < 0.001
  Incisal ridge 20.6±3.1 21.5±3.2 21.8±3.8 21.8±2.5 1.390 0.252
Lingual surface inclination/(°) 41.87±5.87 41.36±5.87 41.23±6.92 41.76±7.62 0.214 0.886
Radius of curvature of lingual surface/mm 6.97±2.28 7.34±2.70 6.16±2.04 6.40±1.49 2.135 0.102
Overbite/mm 3.05±0.92 3.18±0.84 2.63±0.78 2.60±0.85 10.378 < 0.001
Overjet/mm 3.12±1.06 3.33±1.12 2.66±1.04 2.90±0.91 9.671 < 0.001
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