The anteroposterior condylar position in maximum intercuspation in the dentate adult

This article deals with the question of the mandibular condylar position of symptom-free adults in maximum intercuspation. To this purpose, and as sequel to a study by Stamm et al (J Orofac Orthop 2004;65:280-289), scientific literature published between January 2002 and December 2012 on this topic was collated and analyzed. The inclusion criterion for study articles was a distinction between the condylar positions in maximum intercuspation depicted by imaging techniques as anterior, (con)centric and posterior. Six papers - including four study reports and two overview articles - were chosen as relevant. These confirm the observed variability of the condylar position, whereby, as shown by Stamm et al, (con)centric positions were mostly predominant. Furthermore, they show the dependence of the tomographically depicted condylar position on the layer depth of the chosen imaging technique. Keywords: imaging techniques, temporomandibular joint, occlusion, mandibular condyle