Observer variability of and comparison between visual and central bearing point methods of evaluating denture...

Central bearing point and visual methods were used in the study of repeated recordings of occlusion in 30 patients with old complete dentures. The results were classified into di- and trichotomous categories. Intra- and interexaminer variability were generally high. In addition, significant differences were found between the examiners in the level of recording denture occlusion. The use of trichotomous categories increased the variability to an unacceptable level. The variability with the central bearing point method was higher than with the visual method. However, occlusal discrepancies were found with significantly higher frequencies with the central bearing point method than with the visual method.