Assessment of Inter-Condylar Distance as a guide for Arrangement of Maxillary Prosthetic Teeth

Background & Objectives: Inter-Condylar Distance (ICD) has been used as a reliable and fixed parameter for selection of mandibular anterior teeth and their arrangement. The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship of inter-condylar distance with maxillary inter-canine distance and maxillary inter-molar distance. Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics & Crown-Bridge, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) enrolling 120 dentate subjects those fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Maxillary casts were prepared and the distance between bilateral canine tips were measured using a Vernier caliper. The mesiobuccal cusp tips of maxillary first molars were marked and the distance was measured using the caliper. Inter-condylar distance was measured using arbritary face bow. The distance between the two condylar rods was measured in millimeters using Vernier caliper. Every distance was measured three times to assure the accuracy and mean taken. Data were recorded on the proforma for statistical analysis. Results: The ratio of intercondylar distance to the maxillary inter-canine distance was found to be 3.6:1 whereas that to intermolar distance was 2.6:1. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) for the ICD showed positive and significant correlation to both the inter-dental distances. (r - 0.33, (p<0.001) for Maxillary Inter-Canine distance (MIC) and r – 0.59, (p<0.001) for Maxillary Inter-Molar distance (MIM). Conclusion: Inter-condylar distance provides significant measurements and hence can be used as a guide for maxillary denture teeth arrangement.