A proposed novel digital condylar position adjustment technique to help restore a normal disc-condyle relationship

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Digital Imaging

Background:

• Accurate occlusal transfer and condyle position adjustment are crucial for restorative dentistry.
• Conventional methods can lack precision, potentially leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes.
• Restoring the disc-condyle relationship is essential for temporomandibular joint health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel digital technique for real-time occlusal transfer and condyle position adjustment.
• To enhance the repeatability and accuracy of occlusal transfer and condyle position adjustment.
• To assess the clinical effectiveness of the digital technique in restoring the disc-condyle relationship.

Main Methods:

• A digital method utilizing 3D imaging data and digital dental casts was compared with conventional facebow transfers.
• Three participants underwent both digital and conventional occlusal transfer procedures.
• Condylar position was adjusted based on transfer results, with outcomes evaluated in three dimensions. Clinical data from 36 patients were also analyzed.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant differences were found in the spatial positions reproduced by the digital and conventional methods (p=0.000).
• The digital method demonstrated significantly lower positional deviation of the condylar point along the X- and Z-axes after rotational adjustment (p<0.05).
• After translational adjustment, significant differences in positional deviation were observed along the Y-axis (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• A novel digital technique for occlusal transfer and condyle position adjustment has been developed.
• This technique offers improved accuracy and repeatability compared to conventional methods.
• The digital approach has the potential to simplify clinical procedures and aid in restoring normal disc-condyle relationships.