Comparative Study of the Effect of Three Different Interocclusal Recording Materials on Reproducibility of Horizontal Condylar Registrations in Two Different Semiadjustable Articulators: A Clinical Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose Simulation of jaw movements in an articulator requires one of the important condylar parameters, i.e. horizontal condylar inclination (HCI) to be registered in the patient and transferred to a mechanical device (articulator). The most popular and commonly used technique to determine horizontal condylar inclination (HCI) is by use of interocclusal records. Clinical studies comparing the effects of different interocclusal recording materials on reproducibility of protrusive settings in semiadjustable articulators have not been studied much. Hence, the present clinical study was conducted to comparatively assess the effects of three commonly used interocclusal recording materials; namely wax, polyvinylsiloxane, polyether in obtaining HCI values in two commonly used semiadjustable articulators; namely Hanau Wide-Vue (arcon) and Dentatus ARH type (non-arcon). Materials and methods One healthy female patient with intact dentition and no signs and symptoms of TMJ problems was selected for the study. With the help of a custom-made protrusive guide, 10 individual protrusive records for each of the interocclusal recording materials were made. These records were used for programming the two articulators and the respective HCI values were noted. The results obtained were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. Results The HCI values obtained using each of the interocclusal recording materials in both the semiadjustable articulators was found to be statistically significant. Among the materials polyether gave the highest values with less variability and wax gave low values with greater variation. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that HCI values vary both according to the type of interocclusal recording material employed and the articulator selected.