Department of

prosthodontics
Kashyap .N.
Bhojak
Final BDS part

HORIZONTAL JAW
RELATION

INTRODUCTION
JAW RELATION is defined as any relation of

the mandible to maxilla.

Jaw relation is recorded to measure the
extensibility and movements permissible by
the patients TMJ.
3 DIFFERENT TYPES:
1. Orientation jaw relation
2. Vertical jaw relation
3. Horizontal jaw relation

HORIZONTAL JAW RELATION

Horizontal jaw relation is the

maxillomandibular relation in a horizontal

plane.
Described as relationship of mandible to
maxilla in the anteroposterior direction.
2 TYPES:
1) CENTRIC jaw relation
2) ECCENTRIC jaw relation

CENTRIC RELATION
Def :The maxillomandibular relationship in
which condyles articulate with the thinnest
avascular portion of their respective disc
with the complex in the anterior superior
position against the slopes of articular
eminences.
This position is independent of tooth contact.
This position is discernible when the mandible is
directed superiorly and anteriorly.
It is restricted to a purely rotary movement about
the transverse horizontal axis.

3 primary requirements:
1. To record the correct horizontal relationship

of mandible to maxilla
2. To expert equalized vertical pressure
3. To retain record in undistorted condition until
the cast have been accurately mounted on
articulator

SIGNIFICANCE:
In case of dentulous patients proprioceptive
impulses are obtained from PDL.
In case of edentulous patients centric relation
act as proprioceptive centre to guide occlusal
movements.

SALIENT FEATURES:
o Is a definite learned position
o Patient can voluntarily and reflexily return to this
position.
o Can be recorded and repeated.
o On mounting the cast on articulator he
anteroposterior relation of maxillary and mandibular
casts becomes a definite entity.
o This position can be verified.
o Is a reference point in recording maxillomandibular
relations and a starting point for developing occlusion.

RETRUDING THE MANDIBLE:

Mandible should be in the most posterior position while
recording centric relation.
Method:
Relax the patient
Try to bring his upper jaw forward while occluding on
the posterior teeth.
Instruct the patient to touch the posterior border of the
upper record base with his tongue.
Mandibular occlusal rim should be tapped with a finger
gently.this would help patient automatically to retrude
his mandible.

METHODS TO RECORD CENTRIC RELATION:

PHYSIOLOGICAL
tactile or inter occlusal check record method
Pressureless method
Pressure method
FUNCTIONAL
Needle house method
Patterson method
GRAPHIC
Intra oral
Extra oral
RADIOGRAPHIC METHOD

Physiologic method
Based on:
o Proprioceptive impulse of patient
o Kinethetic sense of mandibular movement
o Visual acuity and sense of touch of patient
1) Tactile sense or inter occlusal check record

method.
Tentative jaw relation is recorded.
Ask the patient to retrude the mandible.
Casts are articulated based on this tentative record

INDICATIONS
Abnormally related jaws.
Displaceable flabby tissue.
Large tongue
Uncontrolled mandibular movements.
In patients already using a complete denture

Material used
1. Waxes: low fusing
2. Impression compound
3. Dental plaster
4. Znoe paste

PROCEDURE:
a) Recording tentative jaw relation:
) Maxillary occlusal rim inserted to patients
mouth.
) Vertical dimension at rest is
established.mandibular occlusal rim inserted
and reduced accordingly,
) Tentative centric relation recorded using
tentative jaw relations.artificial teeth are
arranged.

b) Making the inter occlusal check record.

Upper and lower trial dentures are inserted
into the mouth.keep a piece of cotton to
prevent contact of opposing members.
Aluwax is added on the occlusal surface of
teeth of mandibular occlusal rim
Patient asked to retrude mandible and close
on the wax till tooth contact occurs.
Trial dentures removed and allowed to cool.

2)Static or pressureless method.

Nick notch method:
Patient asked to retrude mandible in position.
Upto 3mm of wax removed from mandibular

occlusal rimfrom the premolar region till the distal

end
1 or 2 notches are cut on the corresponding area of
maxillary occlusal rim.
One nick is cut anterior to the notch,a V shaped
valley
Nick:prevent lateral movement
Notch: anteroposterior movement

Nick and notch are lubricated with petroleum.

Prepared occlusal rim are inserted into

patients mouth and taught to close his

mandible in maximum retruded position.
Aluwax is placed on the trough created in
mandibular rim.
Mandibular occlusal rim is cooled and inserted
into patients mouth and closed in centric
relation.

3)Pressure method
Establish vertical dimension.
Upper occlusal rim inserted.lower occlusal rim
is fabricated by softening in water bath.
Insert it into patients mouth.
Patient asked to close mouth in centric
relation on soft wax in predetermined vertical
dimension and then articulated.

Functional method
Method utilise the the functional movements of jaws to record the

centric relation.
Patient asked to perfprm border border movements such as
protrusive and lateral excersion movement.
a) Needle house method
) Fabrication of occlusal rim made from impression compound
) Four metal beads or styli are embedded into premolar and molar

areas of maxillary occlusal rim.

) Occlusal rim inserted into patients mouth and asked to close
occlusal rim and make protrussive,retrussive ,right and left
movement of mandible.
) When movements are made diamond shaped marking pattern
rather than a line is formed on the mandibular occlusal rim.

Patient produces mandibular movements by

moving mandible to protrusion , retrusion,

right and left lateral

b)Patterson method
Occlusal rim made of modelling wax.
In trench or trough is made along the length
of mandibular occlusal rim.
A mixture of carborundum and dental plaster
is loaded into the trench.
Perform mandibular movement till
predetermined vertical dimension.
Movement generates compensative curves in
plaster

Graphic method
The graphic method record a tracing of

mandibular movements in one plane

2 types:
1) Arrow point tracing
2) Pantograph
Arrow point tracing is a graphic record
measured across single plane
Pantogaph is measured three dimensionally.

Factors to be considered while

carrying out tracing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Stability of denture base

Resistance of rims
Difficulty in placing central bearing device
Height of residual alveolar ridge
Tongue interferance
Efficiency of recording device
Lack of coordinated movements

Arrow point tracing or gothic arch tracer

Made using gothic arch tracers

Recorded in horizontal plane.
Consists of central bearing device:a device that provide

central point of bearing or support between the maxillary &

mandibular dental arches.
consists of contacting point attached to one dental arch
and plate attached to opposing dental arch
Plate provide surface on which the tracing of mandibular
movements is recorded.
Consists of:CENTRAL BEARING POINT & CENTRAL BEARING
PLATE.

TYPES OF ARROW POINT TRACERS:

1) INTRA ORAL TRACING POINT:
) Central bearing device is located intra orally.
) Tracer is placed within the mouth.
) Central bearing point & plate is inserted into patients mouth.
) Central bearing point is adjusted such that it contact the

central bearing plate at predetermined vertical dimension.

) Ask to make anteroposterior and lateral movements.
) Central bearing point will draw the tracing pattern on central
bearing plate
) Tracing should resemble an arrow point with a sharp apex.

2)EXTRA ORAL POINT TRACER:

Concept similar to intra oral tracer.
Additionally have an attachment that project outside
mouth.
Record bases attached to recording devices inserted in
patients mouth.
Central bearing point is retracted to conduct training
exercises.
Recording plate which projects extra orally is coated
with precipitated chalk and denatured alcohol.
Patient asked to perform all movements.
Examine for sharp apex.

Points to be considered while doing

graphic tracing method
1. Displacement of record base may result from

pressure if central bearing points is off

center when mandible moves in eccentric
relation to maxilla
2. If central bearing device is not used the
occlusal rims offer more resistance to
horizontal movements
3. Difficult to stabilize record base against
horizontal forces on tissue that are
pendulous

4. Difficult to stabilize record base against

horizontal forces on residual ridges that have

no vertical height
5. Difficult to stabilize record base with pt who
have awkward tongues
6. Recording device are not usually considered
compactible with physiologic stimulation in
mandibular movements
7. Tracing is not accepted unless a pointed
apex is developed

8. Double tracing-lack of coordinated

movement
9. It is made at predetermined vertical
dimension of occlusion.this harmonius
centric relation with centric occlusion and
anteroposterior bone bone relation with
tooth-tooth contact
10. Graphic method can reecord eccentric
relation of mandible to maxilla
11. Most accurate means

Pantographic tracing
A graphic record of mandibular movements in three

planes as registered by styli on recordable tables of

a pantograph,tracing of mandibular movement
recorded on plates in horizontal and sagittal planes.
Make the rim contact at desired vertical relationship.
Strips of celluloid paper are placed between the rim
and pulled out.patient is asked to close and restrain
the celluloid from slipping away,mandible goes to
centric relation.
Softened wax is placed on mandibular occlusal rim
and patient is asked to bite in centric relation.

ECCENTRIC JAW
RELATION
any relationship of mandible to maxilla other

than centric relation

Include protrusive and lateral relations.
Help to adjust the lateral and horizontal
condylar inclination in the articulator.
Thus helps the articulator to reproduce
eccentric movements of mandible and
establish balanced occlusion.
Recorded using functional or tactile method.

conclusion
The accurate determination , recording, and

transfer of jaw relation records from

edentulous patient to articulator is essential
for restoring function, facial apperance, and
maintainance of patients health.
Un satisfactory maxillomandibular relations
will eventually lead to failure of complete
denture

Referances
1. Essentials of complete denture

prosthodontics 2nd edition: Sheldon Winkler

2. Clinical dental prosthetics: H.R.B FENN: 2 nd
edition
3. Syllabus of complete denture : Charles M
Heartwell:4th edition
4. Textbook of prosthodontics : Deepak
Nallaswami