Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inaccurate lateral condylar guidance (LCG) recordings lead to occlusal interferences, increasing patient discomfort and chair-side time. This study aimed to assess and compare the accuracy of LCG calculated using Hanau's formula and right and left lateral records. It also seeks to provide a new formula for calculating LCG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An in-vivo, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted with hundred and sixty readings from twenty patients, divided into four groups (forty readings per group): Group A (control)- 2 frontal cephalograms (1st-maximum intercuspation and 2nd-5 mm lateral excursion), Group B- lateral records, Group C- Hanau's formula, and Group D-the new formula. Horizontal condylar guidance (HCG) values from protrusive records were used in Hanau's formula to calculate LCG. LCG values were also obtained from lateral records, frontal cephalograms (taken with lateral jigs), and the new formula. These values were tabulated and statistically evaluated using One-way ANOVA for group comparisons, Tukey's post hoc test for pairwise comparisons, and Shapiro-Wilk test for data normality. RESULTS: The mean LCG values for Group B were 32.3 (right) and 30.8 (left), and for Group D were 31.15 (right) and 31.75 (left), comparable to Group A of 33.17 (right) and 33.69 (left). The mean LCG values for Groups C were 15.33 (right) and 15.41 (left) and were found to be statistically significant with Group A. CONCLUSION: LCG values obtained using the new proposed formula are closer to control values, making it a viable alternative to interocclusal records and more accurate than Hanau's formula.