title: A newer technique to program a semi adjustable articulator.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The difficulty in reproducing accurate angle of condylar guidance in semi-adjustable articulators.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the angle of horizontal condylar inclination obtained on a semi-adjustable articulator and the corresponding angle traced on a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) radiograph in completely edentulous subject.
  
  
  METHODS
  The horizontal condylar inclination angle was obtained in a semi-adjustable articulator by means of height tracer (extra oral tracing device) and interocclusal records to program the articulator in 21 subjects. TMJ radiograph were recorded by the same operator with same orthopantomogram (OPG) machine (planmeca). Tracings of inclines of articular eminence on the radiograph were compared with the angle obtained on a semi-adjustable articulator. Each measurement was made using manual methods of measuring angle. The results were subjected to the Pearson correlation statistical analysis (α =0.01).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The outline of the articular eminence in a TMJ tomogram radiographic image was identified and traced. A significant correlation was found between the horizontal condylar inclination on a semi-adjustable and the corresponding TMJ tomogram radiographic image for both right (R = 0.789; P = 0.001) and left (i = 0.747; P = 0.004) sides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The articular eminence traced on a TMJ tomogram image represents the horizontal condylar inclination with a mean difference of 5° in 21 subjects evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Sree Balaji Dental College, Bharath University, Pallikaranai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Venkateshwaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Rajah Muthaiah Dental College, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Suma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karthigeyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Indra Gandhi Dental College, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Manoharan
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Sree Sai Dental College and Research Institute, Srikakulam, Andra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Jagadish
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Konchada
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, KSR Dental College, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Manikandan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramaswamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Sree Balaji Dental College, Bharath University, Pallikaranai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.lastname: Bhuminathan
keywords: Horizontal condylar inclination; Programming; TMJ tomogram