THE VARIABILITY OF CONDYLAR POINT PATHWAYS IN OPEN-CLOSE JAW MOVEMENTS

Statement of problem. Clinical assessments of condylar movement often rely on the movement of a single clinically determined or average valu e condylar point. Purpose. The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of differences in condylar point location on recorded movem ent trajectories with an open-close jaw movement. Methods. Recordings were made of the movements of various condylar points in 44 subjects. The points were identified clinically (average value points) and radio graphically. Results. The trajectory of each condylar point, whether a verage value or radiographically determined, was different in form and dimension from any other condylar point within a subject for the same open-close law movement. Conclusions. Depending on the point chosen i n the vicinity of the condyle, quite different interpretations of cond ylar movement within a subject could be made. The data underscore the caution that must be exercised when interpreting condylar movement fro m the movement of a single condylar point.