Sagittal condylar guidance angle measurement methods: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Dental Science
• Prosthodontics
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Accurate condylar guidance angle assessment is vital for successful prosthodontic treatment.
• Current methods for determining this angle lack clear reliability and accuracy.
• This systematic review addresses the need for a comprehensive evaluation of existing techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the reliability and accuracy of methods for determining the sagittal condylar guidance angle.
• Included methods: protrusive interocclusal records, axiography, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and radiographic techniques.
• Comparison against established benchmarks to assess diagnostic accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across major databases (BASE, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science) up to June 2022.
• Inclusion criteria focused on comparative studies of protrusive interocclusal records against other sagittal condylar guidance angle assessment methods.
• Methodological quality assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) tool.

Main Results:

• Analysis of 24 qualifying articles revealed discrepancies in sagittal condylar guidance angle values across methods.
• Protrusive interocclusal records showed differences up to 9 degrees compared to panoramic radiographs.
• Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and digital axiography demonstrated varying degrees of correlation with protrusive interocclusal records, with differences noted based on registration materials.

Conclusions:

• Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) emerges as a potentially suitable method, though limitations exist.
• Acknowledging discrepancies among protrusive interocclusal records, radiographs, and other techniques is essential.
• Digital axiography shows potential for superior functional data capture; further research is needed for refined, reproducible assessment methods.