Abstract: A jaw tracking device, which fits entirely in the mouth and can be attached to conventional removable dental appliances, tracks the location and movement of the lower jaw with high precision and speed when the mouth is closed or nearly closed by recording the projection of light from a light emitting diode, laser diode, or fiberoptic source fixed to the lower dental arch onto one or two position sensitive detectors (PSDS) fixed to the upper dental arch. Since the system acquires data quickly enough to record the minute deflections of the lower jawbone which occur each time the jaw is closed eccentrically, it can be used with acoustic sensors attached to the individual teeth in order to analyze a person's bite. Since each PSD relies on only four outputs, its data can be easily transmitted by telemetry so that it can be used to track the location of the jaw during sleep without requiring wires protruding from the mouth of the sleeping subject.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing tooth contact includes at least one, and more typically plural, vibration sensors which are coupled to the non-biting surfaces of teeth. These sensors produce output signals when the associated teeth contact one another during jaw closing, the output signals being processed to provide information concerning tooth contact. For example, information concerning the first tooth which contacts may be determined, the sequence of contact by various teeth may be determined, as well as the time between contact of the various teeth. Other information concerning tooth contact may also be determined and displayed in a variety of forms. The device may be implemented in circuit as well as in microprocessor forms. In addition, in combination with a jaw trajectory apparatus, the tooth contact information may be correlated with jaw trajectory information to provide a more complete indication of the stability of a patient's bite.