The variability and reliability of two maxillary and mandibular superimposition techniques. Part II.

A retrospective cephalometric study was performed to evaluate the reliability and the validity of various maxillary and mandibular superimposition techniques. In the maxilla, Ricketts' position three and the "best fit" techniques were evaluated. In the mandible, Ricketts' position four and the Björk structural method were studied. All techniques proved to be statistically reproducible and reliable. It could not be determined which technique was most valid since a control, such as implants, was not available in the sample used. Both mandibular techniques yielded comparable descriptive analyses of mandibular dental changes. The maxillary superimposition techniques yielded different descriptions of maxillary dental changes which may be a result of the subjective manipulation required when using the best fit technique. Since none of the approaches appeared to be statistically superior, we recommend positions three and four because of their ease.