Journal of Prosthodontics News
July 28, 2026
Virtual articulation using sequential mandibular intraoral scans and computational functional rotation reference determination
Now online in the Journal of Prosthodontics a technique report on virtual articulation using sequential mandibular intraoral scans co-authored by ACP members Mohamed Sherif Omar BDS, MSc, Chao-Chieh Yang DDS, MSD, Dean Morton BDS, MS, and Wei-Shao Lin DDS, MBA, MSAI, PhD.
This proof-of-concept technique presents a computational method for determining a functional rotation reference from sequential mandibular intraoral scans captured at controlled opening increments using leaf gauges.
The algorithm systematically searches 3D space within anatomically defined boundaries to identify regions undergoing minimal translation during jaw opening—points that must geometrically lie on or near a rotation axis. A best fit line through their distribution establishes the functional rotation reference. This reference is then transformed to align with the intercondylar axis coordinates of the virtual articulator for digital cast mounting.
The technique was implemented for multiple virtual articulator systems including Denar Mark 330, Artex CR, and Stratos 300. Because this technique relies only on standard intraoral scanning equipment and leaf gauges, it enables patient-specific virtual articulation without facial scanning, CBCT, or electronic jaw tracking, offering an intermediate option between arbitrary mounting and hardware-intensive registration methods.
This report describes a single representative case and larger cohort studies are required to establish inter-individual variability, inter-operator reliability, and reproducibility across different intraoral scanner systems before generalization to clinical practice.
Omar MS, Yang C-C, Morton D, Lin W-S. Virtual articulation using sequential mandibular intraoral scans and computational functional rotation reference determination—Proof-of-concept. J Prosthodont. 2026; 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopr.70188
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