METHODS OF

RECORDING
CENTRIC
RELATION
 CONTENTS
➢ Introduction
➢ Definition
➢ Classification
➢ Methods
➢ Discussion
➢ Critical analysis
➢ Conclusion
➢ References
 Introduction
➢ Acquiring and transferring a dependable centric jaw relation record has long been
a matter of great concern to prosthodontists.
➢ When the natural teeth are removed, many receptors, that initiate impulses
resulting in positioning of mandible, are lost or destroyed
➢ Therefore, an edentulous patient cannot control the mandibular movements or
avoid deflective occlusal contacts in centric relation in the same manner as the
dentate patient can.
➢ Deflective occlusal contacts in centric relation cause movement of denture bases
and displacement of supporting tissues or direct the mandible away from this
relation
➢ So importance and need of centric jaw relation position lies in the fact that it acts
as a reference position for the development of occlusion in harmony with the
entire stomatognathic system.
Thakur M, Jain V, Parkash H, Kumar P. A comparative evaluation of static and functional methods for recording centric relation and condylar guidance: A clinical
 Definition
Centric relation :-
A maxillomandibular relationship, independent of tooth contact, in
which the condyles articulate in the anterior-superior position against the posterior slopes of
the articular eminences; in this position, the mandible is restricted to a purely rotary
movement; from this unstrained, physiologic, maxillomandibular relationship, the patient
can make vertical, lateral or protrusive movements; it is a clinically useful, repeatable
reference position
GPT10
Condylar guidance :-
mandibular guidance generated by the condyle and articular disc
traversing the contour of the articular eminence
Or
the mechanical form located in the posterior region of an articulator that controls movement
of its mobile member
GPT 10
 Classification

Static Functional Graphic Cephalometric

Thakur M, Jain V, Parkash H, Kumar P. A comparative evaluation of static and functional methods for recording centric relation and condylar guidance: A clinical
study. The Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society. 2012 Sep;12:175-81.
To record the centric relation patient should retrude the mandible

➢ The dentist places his thumb and forefinger on the patient’s chin to exert a mild
but firm posterior force while patient closes on the rims. This will prevent the
patient from moving the jaw anteriorly
➢ Dentist palpates the temporal and masseter muscles to relax them
➢ bimanual palpation
➢ Anterior Bite Stops - a)
Anterior
Deprogramming device

Dawson PE. Functional occlusion: from TMJ to smile design. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2006 Jul 31.
b)The Pankey Jig c)The Best-bite Appliance

e)Leaf Gauge d)The Lucia Jig

Dawson PE. Functional occlusion: from TMJ to smile design. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2006 Jul 31.
Methods of recording centric relation

1) Static method :-These methods are employed without the use of functional
or excursive mandibular movements.

a)wax occlusal rims -The patient is trained to retrude the mandible and the
patient is asked to close in centric and hold the position
The rims are joined or sealed in this position and then removed from the
mouth

Sanjay Bansal SB, Jayant Palaskar JP. Critical evaluation of methods to record centric jaw relation.
 b)) Interocclusal check records-
➢ Patient is asked to rehearse retruding the
mandible. The maxillary trial denture is
inserted in the patient’s mouth. The
recording medium like aluwax is loaded
onto the occlusal surface of the teeth in
the mandibular occlusal rim
➢ The patient is asked to slowly retrude the
mandible and close on the wax till the
tooth contact occurs .
They should not bite through the
material. The recording material is
allowed to set and the trial dentures are
removed with the recording material

Sanjay Bansal SB, Jayant Palaskar JP. Critical evaluation of methods to record centric jaw relation.
2)functional methods:-
a)) Needle–House method -

1)Zarb GA, Bolarder CL, Hickey JC, Carlsson GE (1997) Boucher’s prosthodontic treatment for
b)Patterson method-

C) Meyer’s method-
Meyer used soft wax to generate the functional pathway and record CR.

Zarb GA, Bolarder CL, Hickey JC, Carlsson GE (1997) Boucher’s prosthodontic treatment for
Graphic methods :-
A)Gothic arch tracing -: The tracing can be made intraorally or extraorally
a)Extraoral tracing -
➢ The maxillary cast is mounted on the articulator with a facebow transfer.
➢ The mandibular cast is oriented to the maxillary cast at the established vertical
dimension with a static CR record.
➢ The condylar elements of the articulator are secured against the centric stops.
➢ The central bearing and tracing devices are mounted on the respective rims The
patient is seated with head upright, in a comfortable position on the dental chair
➢ The record bases with the attached devices are inserted in the patient’s mouth.
➢ The stylus is made to contact the recording plate and Patient is trained to make
various excursive movements
➢ When an acceptable tracing is made with a single sharp apex, a centric record is
obtained.
Zarb GA, Bolarder CL, Hickey JC, Carlsson GE (1997) Boucher’s prosthodontic treatment for
Image
Image courtesy
courtesy -- google
google images
images
b) intraoral tracing -
➢ The procedure with intraoral tracer is
similar, but as the tracing is not visible
while being made, a thin plastic disc
with a central hole is fixed on the
recording plate such that the hole is
placed on the apex of the tracing.
➢ The patient closes with the tip of the
stylus in the hole and this ensures that
the patient closes in centric and
maintains the position while the record
is being made

Sanjay Bansal SB, Jayant Palaskar JP. Critical evaluation of methods to record centric jaw relation.
Pantographic tracings :-

➢ pantograph is an instrument used to graphically record, in one or

more planes, the paths of mandibular movement and to provide
information for the programming of an articulator

➢ mandibular movement usually recorded in the horizontal and

sagittal planes as registered by styli on the recording tables of a
pantograph.

Sanjay Bansal SB, Jayant Palaskar JP. Critical evaluation of methods to record centric jaw relation.
4)Cephalometrics :-
The use of cephalometrics to record Centric Relation ' was described by Pyott
and Schaeffer. Centric Relation , and vertical dimension of occlusion were
determined , by cephalometric radiographs.
This method however, was somewhat impractical and never gained
widespread usage.
 Condylar guidance :-
mandibular guidance generated by the condyle and articular disc
traversing the contour of the articular eminence
Or
the mechanical form located in the posterior region of an articulator
that controls movement of its mobile member GPT10
 DISCUSSION
➢ CR recorded by both the methods did coincide in 7.14 % of patients.
➢ CR recorded by static method (interocclusal wax record) was posterior to that
recorded by Gothic arch tracing in 21.43 % of patients, while in 71.42 % patients CR
recorded by static method made to coincide with centric relation
➢ Condylar guidance angles was recorded at 6 mm of Protrusive movements
➢ Condylar guidance angles recorded by Gothic tracings were higher (10–35) than
those measured by interocclusal wax (10–30) method. Dawson indicate that,
condylar inclinations i.e. 25 is seen in majority of the population
➢ Patients adapted well with comparable level of comfort with the dentures fabricated
by using different CR and HCG record.
 Critical analysis
1)Kapur et al. (1957) conducted a study evaluating centric relation records using three standard

methods. They found that intra-oral and extra-oral tracing procedures were more consistent than the

wax registration method. However, in patients with flabby ridges, consistency decreased compared to

those with good or flat ridges. The wax method showed variable consistency across ridge types. The

difference in consistency between intra-oral and extra-oral tracing was not statistically significant.

2)Hobo et al. (1985) conducted a study on mandibular centricity reproducibility using three recording

techniques. They found that approximately 0.2 to 0.3 mm of maximum condylar displacement was

recorded by all methods, consistent with reported literature.Bilateral manipulation showed the most

consistent reproducibility and is recommended for Centric Relation registration.

3)Lassila (1986) compared five interocclusal recording material" using silicone putty, polyether, zinc,
oxide and eugenol impression paste, eugenol free zinc oxide, acrylic resin and baseplate wax and
found varying initial resistance to closure, ranging from 0.5N to 13.8N, with elastomers showing a
rapid increase in working time.

Wax exhibited a resistance of about 7N at 60°C. Elastomers had slight volumetric contraction during
polymerization but maintained reliability over time when stored properly. Rigid materials like acrylic
resin and zinc oxide pastes demonstrated good dimensional stability.
 Conclusion

➢ The study concludes that while dentures fabricated using Gothic arch and
conventional methods showed comparable outcomes in centric relation
accuracy, retention, and patient satisfaction.
➢ the Gothic arch method proved more technique-sensitive and time-
consuming, while the conventional method was more acceptable for both
operator and patient
 References

1)Zarb GA, Bolarder CL, Hickey JC, Carlsson GE (1997) Boucher’s prosthodontic
treatment for edentulous patients, 10th edn. The C.V. Mosby Company, St. Louis, p 283,
270, 422

2)Bansal S, Palaskar J. Critical evaluation of methods to record centric jaw

relation. The Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society. 2009 Jul 1;9(3):120-6.
3)Yurkstas AA, Kapur KK. Factors influencing centric relation records in edentulous
mouths. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. 1964 Nov 1;14(6):1054-65.