Laminagraphic study of mandibular condyle position when recording centric relation.

Laminagraphs were made of each temporomandibular joint of 20 subjects (1) with the mandible forcefully retruded to centric relation and (2) with the mandible positioned by a closing force while an anterior guidance prosthesis was being used. The radiographs were compared by measurements of condylar position; results indicated the condyles to be significantly more superior in the glenoid fossa when anterior guidance was used. The difference in anterior-posterior positioning of the condyles appeared to occur randomly. Measurements of the joint spaces with the mandible in centric relation using anterior guidance indicated that mandibular condyles were not centered in the fossae. There seemed to be a range in the size of the space that could be considered normal.