Reproducibility of Sagittal Condylar Path Inclination Assessed by Protrusive Interocclusal Record with Two Different Techniques of Facebow Registration

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose is to validate whether the data obtained for sagittal condylar inclination are correctly reproduced on the semi-adjustable articulator using protrusive interocclusal records for conventional facebow registration method (orbitale (OR) as an anterior point of reference) and facebow registration using bubble leveler (BL) as an anterior point of reference and compared these values with the values obtained by lateral cephalogram (gold standard). Materials and Methods: In total, 30 individuals (20 males and 10 females) with proper teeth alignment, facebow registrations were recorded using OR as an anterior point of reference (Group A, conventional technique) and WBL as an anterior point of reference (Group B). The sagittal condylar path inclination was measured and compared using protrusive interocclusal records for both the groups. These values compared with the values for sagittal condylar path inclination obtained using lateral cephalogram (Group C) using one-way analysis of variance (P < 0.05). Results: There was no statistically significant differences observed in the values of sagittal condylar inclination for all three groups with P = 0.583. Conclusion: This study suggests that BL technique can be used for the orientation of maxillary cast on the semi-adjustable articulator as accurately as the conventional approach, for those practitioners who find difficulty in locating the OR for those patients with deformity in facial region. Lateral cephalogram provides almost the same measurements of sagittal condylar path inclination as obtained using protrusive interocclusal record on facebow registrations using OR and BL as an anterior point of references.