Correlation of Condylar Guidance Determined by Panoramic Radiographs to One Determined by Conventional Methods

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the feasibility of using panoramic radiographs as an alternative to an interocclusal recording method for determining the condylar guidance in dentate and edentulous conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 dentulous individuals with an age range of 20-30 years and 20 edentulous patients of 40-65 years were selected. An interocclusal bite registration was done in protrusive position for all the subjects. Orthopantomographs were made for all patients in open mouth position. Hanau articulator was modified to record the angulations to the accuracy of 1°. Tracing of glenoid fossa on radiograph was done to measure the condylar guidance angles. Readings were recorded and analyzed by Freidman’s test and t-test. RESULTS: Condylar guidance values obtained by the interocclusal method and radiographic method in dentate individuals on the right side and left side 40.55°, and 37.1°, and 40.15°, and 34.75°, respectively. In the edentulous individuals, the values on the right side and left side was 36.7° and 36.1° and 35.95° and 33.6,° respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P = < 0.001) in dentate group and was not statistically significant (P = 0.6493) in edentulous group. CONCLUSION: Panoramic radiograph can be used as an alternative to interocclusal technique only in edentulous patients. Further studies comparing panoramic radiograph to jaw tracking devices would substantiate the results of this study.