Visualizing Molar Occlusion and Function: Application of Laser and CAD-CAM Technology

这个项目是开发技术来可视化的闭塞 灵长类臼齿的牙齿。 咀嚼时颌骨的运动 是一个非常复杂现象，也是一个相当有趣的现象 因为这种运动与牙齿形状有关 和饮食。 因为灵长类动物的化石记录 牙齿残骸的研究，了解牙齿形状的关系， 功能和饮食是一个核心。 这里是三维的 扫描装置将被用来扫描表面形貌 咬合磨牙的两个物种， 偏好：Saimiri，一个食果食虫的新世界 猴子和Ateles，一个食果动物。研究人员将尝试 使用数字化模型来模拟咬合阶段。 一 博物馆的一系列牙齿将被检查，以研究其影响 在咬合过程中牙齿的磨损。 这些信息 将有助于破译生活的饮食适应， 灭绝的灵长类动物

This project is to develop techniques to visualize the occlusion of primate molar teeth. The movement of the jaws in mastication is a highly complex phenomenon and one of considerable interest to anthropologists as the movements are related to tooth shape and to diet. Since the primate fossil record is largely composed of dental remains, understanding the relationship of tooth shape, function and diet is a central one. Here a three-dimensional scanning device will be used to digitize the surface morphology of occluding molars from two species which differ in dietary preferences: Saimiri, a frugivorous-insectivorous New World Monkey and Ateles, a frugivore. The researchers will then attempt to use the digitized models to simulate phases in occlusion. A museum series of teeth will then be examined to study the effects of wear on the fit of teeth during occlusion. This information will assist in deciphering the dietary adaptations of living and extinct primates.