Statement of problem: Clinical assessments of condylar movement often rely on the movement of a single clinically determined or average value condylar point.
Purpose: The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of differences in condylar point location on recorded movement trajectories with an open-close jaw movement.
Methods: Recordings were made of the movements of various condylar points in 44 subjects. The points were identified clinically (average value points) and radiographically.
Results: The trajectory of each condylar point, whether average value or radiographically determined, was different in form and dimension from any other condylar point within a subject for the same open-close jaw movement.
Conclusions: Depending on the point chosen in the vicinity of the condyle, quite different interpretations of condylar movement within a subject could be made. The data underscore the caution that must be exercised when interpreting condylar movement from the movement of a single condylar point.