A Comparison of the Change in Mandibular Condyle/Fossa Relationship with the Use of Anatomic Teeth and Semi-anatomic Teeth in Complete Denture Prosthesis

Abstract

The association between dental occlusion and mandibular condyle/fossa relation has long been debated and still remains one of the most controversial issues in Prosthodontics. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of two different tooth forms on the condyle/fossa relation recorded during jaw relation process. Twenty edentulous patients were selected with good neuromuscular control. For each patient two pairs of dentures were fabricated with anatomic teeth and semi-anatomic teeth. Condylar position was recorded using a digital volume tomography (DVT) following the process of jaw relation (following extra oral tracing). Subsequent laboratory remounting, the denture insertion was done and DVTs were taken again for both the dentures separately. Two methods were used to evaluate the condyle/fossa relation viz. (1) Zhang's method (2) Brewka's method. The obtained values were then subjected to statistical analysis. The statistical significance was set as at 0.05%. The mandibular concentricity were analysed during the process of jaw relation and after the insertion of dentures with the two different tooth forms. Statistical analysis indicated that no statistically significant difference of the influence of different posterior tooth forms on the condyle/fossa relation recorded during jaw relation (p<0.05). Thus within limitations of this study it was concluded that the condyle/fossa relation established during jaw relation does not change with the change in posterior tooth form used.