Variability of centric relation position in TMD patients

Area of Science:

• Dental Science
• Orthodontics
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Background:

• The reproducibility of centric relation (CR) position in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients is not well-documented.
• Accurate CR recording is crucial for diagnosing and treating TMD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the clinical variability of the centric relation position in TMD patients using a muscle-determined technique.
• To evaluate the reliability of the leaf gauge device for obtaining CR records in TMD patients.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 60 TMD patients and 12 controls underwent examination using the Research Diagnostic Criteria.
• Three sequential centric relation records were taken using a leaf gauge, with precision criteria defined for comparison.
• Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe's test were employed to compare within-subject and total variability between groups.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in condylar displacements (sagittal, transversal, vertical) between TMD patients and control subjects.
• Variability measures (XMIN, YMIN, ZMIN, XMAX, YMAX, ZMAX, XDIFF, YDIFF, ZDIFF) also showed no significant differences between the groups.
• The leaf gauge technique demonstrated consistent CR recording in TMD patients.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests no significant variability in centric relation position between TMD patients and control subjects when using the leaf gauge.
• The findings indicate that the leaf gauge may be a reliable tool for determining CR in TMD patients, despite their condition.