A Comparison between the Horizontal Condylar and Bennett Angles of Iraqi Full Mouth Rehabilitation Patients by Using Two Different Articulator Systems (An In-Vivo Study)

Background: Errors of horizontal condylar inclinations and Bennett angles had largely affected the articulation of teeth and the pathways of cusps. The aim of this study was to estimate and compare between the horizontal condylar (protrusive) angles and Bennett angles of full mouth rehabilitation patients using two different articulator systems. Materials and Methods: Protrusive angles and Bennett angles of 50 adult males and females Iraqi TMD-free full mouth rehabilitation patients were estimated by using two different articulator systems. Arbitrary hinge axis location followed by protrusive angles and Bennett angles, estimation was done by a semiadjustable articulator system. A fully adjustable articulator system was utilized to locate the terminal hinge axis using a kinematic face bow followed by protrusive angles location by the aid of two square shaped transparent hard plastic protractors attached close to the condylar stylus of the articulator followed by Bennett angles calculation according to the Hanau formula. All results were subjected to statistical analyses. Results: The two articulator systems scored protrusive angles for male patients greater than female patients which were non-significant for the fully adjustable articulator but they were significant for the semiadjustable articulator. Non-significance existed between females of the fully adjustable articulator and males of the semiadjustable articulator while high significance was located between males of the fully adjustable articulator and females of the semiadjustable articulator. Concerning Bennett angles, the highest mean value belonged to the male group of the fully adjustable articulator, while the lowest scored by the female group of the semiadjustable articulator. Highly significant differences were located between the Bennett angle mean values of the groups. Conclusion: Using both articulators, the total mean values of the males were greater than the females regarding both horizontal condylar angles and Bennett angles with the total means scored by the fully adjustable articulator being larger than those of the semi-adjustable type. Using both articulators, the males' right and left condyles exhibited greater Bennett angles than their female equivalents. The precision estimation of the horizontal condylar angles and Bennett angles provided by the condylar axis protractors of the fully adjustable articulator render such type of articulators most suitable for treating full mouth rehabilitation cases. Keywords: Horizontal codylar angles, Bennett angles, two articulator systems