Preliminary clinical study of the accuracy of a digital axiographic recording system for the assessment of sagittal condylar inclination.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate the accuracy of a digital axiographic recording system in tracing the sagittal condylar inclination.

Methods: An axiographic examination that records the sagittal condylar path during protrusive/retrusive movement was performed on ten patients. Each subject was registered five different times by two different systems: 1) the Cadiax Gamma Diagnostic 4 computerized system as the control; 2) the Zebris Jaw Motion Analyser+  Optic System as the tested digital axiographic recording system. The records obtained allow to calculate the kinematic terminal transverse horizontal axis and the sagittal condylar inclination (SCI) at 3 and 5 mm along the pro-retrusive path. A linear mixed model was used to analyze if there was a statistically significant difference between the two systems.

Results: The mean left SCI value recorded by Zebris system were 49.81 ± 10.64° at 3 mm, 48.10 ± 11.04° at 5 mm, while the values recorded by Gamma system were 55.16° at 3 mm, 52.18° at 5 mm. The mean right SCI value recorded by Zebris system were 54.53 ± 10.26° at 3 mm, 51.85 ± 8.55° at 5 mm, while the values recorded by Gamma system were 49.68° at 3 mm, 48.23° at 5 mm. Linear mixed model showed no significant statistical difference between the two systems.

Conclusions: Based on preliminary results, the Zebris Jaw Motion Analyzer+ Optic System demonstrates comparable accuracy to the Cadiax Gamma Diagnostic 4 when measuring sagittal condylar inclination.

Clinical Significance: The digital axiographic recording system enables to evaluate sagittal condylar inclination and to adjust virtual articulators in a digital workflow.