Trajectories of condylar points during working-side excursive movements ofthe mandible

Statement of problem. Trajectories of different condylar points provide dif ferent interpretations of condylar movement during open-close jaw movements . Movement of the working-side condyle is often assessed clinically by reco rding the trajectory of a single arbitrary condylar point. Purpose. This study examined the effect of the differences in condylar poin t location on condylar point movement trajectories during a working-side mo vement. Methods. Different points exhibited different trajectories during a single working-side movement in each of 44 subjects. Results. Up to 40% of a point's displacement could be attributed simply to the location of the point. Conclusions. Interpretation of condylar movement on the working side within a subject depends on the point chosen.