A comparative study on the influence of third point of reference on condylar guidance settings in a semi-adjustable articulator with lateral cephalographs: An in-vivo study.

AIM

The study aimed to evaluate the effect on condylar guidance values with casts mounted by facebow transfer (Guichet's point as the third point of reference), Bonwill's, and radiographic method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The dentulous subject's casts were mounted to a semi-adjustable articulator (Artex Type AR) after facebow transfer with Guichet's point as the third point of reference and also by Bonwill's method. Protrusive records made earlier were utilized to program the right and left side condylar guidance value. Two digital lateral cephalograms were made, one in centric relation, and one in protrusion and the condyles were traced and overlapped. The condylar guidance readings obtained by Bonwill's method, facebow transfer, and lateral cephalometric tracings were compared in this study using the SPSS (Version 17.0 Illinois, Chicago, USA) software.

RESULTS

The condylar guidance values obtained from Bonwill's and the facebow transfer method (p < 0.001) was lesser than the radiographic method. The values obtained by casts mounted to the Bonwill's method differed significantly (p < 0.001) from the other two methods.

CONCLUSION

The values obtained by facebow transfer were closer to the radiographic values whereas the values obtained by Bonwill's method mounting differed markedly.