A 3-DIMENSIONAL MATHEMATICAL-MODEL OF THE HUMAN MASTICATORY SYSTEM PREDICTING MAXIMUM POSSIBLE BITE FORCES

A three-dimensional mathematical model of the human masticatory system, containing 16 muscle forces and two joint reaction forces, is described. The model allows simulation of static bite forces and concomitant joint reaction forces for various bite point locations and mandibular positions. Maximum possible bite forces were computed using optimization techniques; the optimization criterion we used was the minimizing of the relative activity of the most active muscle. The model predicts that at each specific bite point, bite forces can be generated in a wide range of directions, and that the magnitude of the maximum bite force depends on its direction. The relationship between bite force direction and its maximum magnitude depends on bite point location and mandibular position.