Reproducibility of Centric Relation Techniques by means of Condyle Position Analysis

The aim of this study was to determine the reproducibility of clinical centric relation (CR) registration techniques (bimanual manipulation, chin point guidance and Roth's method) by means of condyle position analysis.

Thirty two fully dentate asymptomatic subjects (16 female and 16 male) with normal occlusal relations (Angle class I) participated in the study (mean age, 22.6 ± 4.7 years). The mandibular position indicator (MPI) was used to analyze the three-dimensional (anteroposterior (ΔX), superoinferior (ΔZ), mediolateral (ΔY)) condylar shift generated by the difference between the centric relation position (CR) and the maximal intercuspation position (MI) observed in dental arches.

The mean value and standard deviation of three-dimensional condylar shift of the tested clinical CR techniques was 0.19 ± 0.34 mm. Significant differences within the tested clinical CR registration techniques were found for anteroposterior condylar shift on the right side posterior (Δ Xrp; P ≤ 0.012); and superoinferior condylar shift on the left side inferior (Δ Zli; P ≤ 0.011), whereas between the tested CR registration techniques were found for anteroposterior shift on the right side posterior (ΔXrp, P ≤ 0.037) and superoinferior shift on the right side inferior (ΔZri, P ≤ 0.004), on the left side inferior (ΔZli, P ≤ 0.005) and on the left side superior (ΔZls, P ≤ 0.007).

Bimanual manipulation, chin point guidance and Roth's method are clinical CR registration techniques of equal accuracy and reproducibility in asymptomatic subjects with normal occlusal relationship.