Sex difference in intercondylar distance

Intercondylar distances that had been determined by means of the Minigraph and Simulator instruments were statistically compared for 130 men and 130 women. The mean intercondylar distance for men was 108 mm (SD = 7.2, SE = 0.6) and for women, 102 mm (SD = 7.4, SE = 0.6). The difference was highly significant (p less than 0.0001). It was hypothesized that adjustable articulators that have a lower limit of 90 mm for the intercondylar distance adjustment will not be adjustable for 5% of women having a smaller intercondylar distance. An articulator with a lower limit of 96 mm will not be adjustable for 20% of women and 5% of men. An adjustment range of 80 to 130 mm is suggested that, on the basis of the data gathered from this study, would miss only one woman in 10,000 at the lower limit and one man in 10,000 at the upper limit.