Evaluation of the relationship between anterior and posterior functionally disclusive angles. Part II: Study of a population.

The lateral and protrusive anterior and posterior disclusive angles were recorded and measured by using a newly developed method (part I) on a population of 50 subjects (mean age 27.2 years). All of the subjects had natural anterior teeth, 45 had a clinically acceptable anterior guidance, and the remaining five had a partial (unilateral) or total lack of anterior guidance. A statistically significant correlation between the anterior and posterior disclusive angles was not found either in the entire population (n = 50) or in the stratum of the population that consisted of subjects with a clinically acceptable anterior guidance (n = 45). The Angle class of occlusion or anterior deep bite malocclusion were not identified as possible confounders or effect modifiers. This study suggested that the intra-articular tissues of the temporomandibular joint played a significant role in the relationship of their osseous components. Practical guidelines to determine anterior guidance could be established by using population means.