Objective: The study was to investigate the occlusal contacts with a set of dental casts based on their three-dimensional models in the intercuspal position.
Methods: 3D point-clouds of the dental casts in the intercuspal position were acquired by D.02-L-3D scanner with a special casts-locating device, and reconstructed . The areas of occlusal contacts were calculated, and were further compared with the results from the methods of articulating paper and photocclusion technique.
Results: There was no significant difference in the result of occlusal contacts analysis between the 3D reconstructive measurement and articulating paper or photocclusion technique. The virtual articulating paper was also preliminarily carried out in this research.
Conclusion: The study verified the reliability of the measurement for occlusal contacts by the 3D digital model, and may lead to a new way for occlusal contacts research.