THE EFFECT OF INCISAL GUl&MNCE ON CUSP ANGULAMON IN FROSTHERC QCCLTJSIQN

FINNTENGS CHRISTENSEN, L.D.S.

Stavanger, Norway

of this article is to clarify the relationship between the sagittal cusp angulation and the inclination of the incisal guidance. Swenson1has expressed the relation by means of the following formula:
HE OBJECT cusp lncisal + Fraction distance of inclination = inclination fromincisal g&&me

Condyle
inclination angle -

In&al
inclination angle >

If the cusp angulation is 8, the inclination of incisal guidance is U,the condplar guide inclination is /3, and the fraction of the distancefrom the incisal guidance is ri. Swensonsformula may be expressed 2 = u + d (@ - U). : Therefore, if the cusp angulation is to be in accordancewith the incisal guidanceand the condylar guidance,the cusp angulation varies as follows : 1. If the incisal inclination is less than the inclination of condylar guidance, the cusp angulation must equal the incisal inclination plus an angle that depends on the difference p - u and the fraction of the distance from the incisal point to the cuspin question. 2. If the inclination of the incisal guidance is equal to the condylar guidance, that is, u = p, the cusp angulation is equal to both the inclination of incisal guidanceand the inclination of the condylar guidance,that is, 2 = u = fi (Fig. 1). 3. If the incisal guide inclination is greater than the condylar guide inclination, the differencep - u will be negative. The cusp angulation is equal to the incisal guide inclination minus an angle that dependson the differencep - u and the fraction of the distanceof the cusp in question from the incisal point.
THE DISTANCE FROM TKE INCISAL POINT

Swensons formula is an empirical formula and logically unassailable.However, it is not an exact formula. The factor d, the fraction of distancefrom the incisal point to the cusp in question, is the weak link. The problem is to calculate d. To solve that problem, it is necessaryto determine the cusp angulation for complete dentures and the suppositions regarding the calculations of the cusp angulation when the incisal guidance is zero degrees.2 The calculation of the cusp angulation for complete dentures is based on the calculation of the Christensen angle (y), The protrusive movementof the condylar
*Asefstant Professor, Norwegian State Dental School, Oslo. 48

;;hltlp,r 11

EFFECT

OF INCISAL

GUIDANCE

ON CUSP ANGULATION

49

axis is divided into two separate movements. 2 The first movement is a parallel shift of the incisal point and the condylar axis along the incisal guidance which is assumed to be zero degrees. The same principle is used to clarify the influence of the incisal guidance on the cusp angulation. In the present situation, the first movement is a parallel shift of, respectively, the condylar axis and the incisal point along the incisal guidance. According to Fig. 2, the condylar axis (L) is thought to move along an imaginary condylar path (LL,) which is situated parallel to the incisal guidance (AA,). The mandibular occlusal plane (AK) is shifted parallelly to a new position (A,K,). The next step is a rotation of the mandible around the incisal point (A,) in the new position, until the condylar axis L, touches the real condylar path. L, shifts to L,

Fig. I.-The inclination of the guidance. The incisal point and the maintain antagonistic tooth contact cusp angulation of all of the cusps the condylar guidances.

in&al guidance is equal to the incl>nation of the condylar projection of the condylar axis move on parallel paths. To along the entire length of the protrusive facets, the sagittal must be the same size as the inclination of the incisal and

if the condylar guide inclination is greater than the incisal guide inclination, If the relation is inversed, that is, the incisal guide inclinaton is steeper than the condylar guide inclination, L, shifts to L,. The angle K,A,K2 is formed if the condylar path inclination is steeper than the incisal guide inclination. If the relation is inversed, the angle K,A,K, is formed. These angles correspond to the Christensen angle, and the size depends upon the difference between the condylar guide inclination and the incisal guide inclination. If the condylar guide inclination is the same size as the incisal guide inclination, the cusp angulation must be of the same size (/3 = I) = 2) because the incisal point and the condylar axis move on parallel paths (Fig. 1) . That is in accordance with Swensons formula. However, when there is any difference between the incisal and the condylar guide inclinations, the cusp angulation must be altered to attain complete antagonistic contact along the entire length of the protrusive facets during protrusive movements.

50

CHRlSTENSEIi

Jan.-F.&

J. P:ua. !>tn.

1961

The difference between the incisal and cmdylar angles (p -- V) is called the cid angle (condylar-incisal difference angle ) If the inclination of condylar guidauce is greater than the inclination of incisal guidance. the cusp nngulation is equai to

Fig. Z.-The inclination of the incisal guidance is different from the inclination of the condylar guidance: (A) the incisal point in centric occlusion; IA,) the position of the in&al point after a protrusive movement along the incisal path; (AA,) the length of the protrusion; (AK) the plane of occlusion; (A,K,) an auxiliary line indicating the mandibular occlusal plane after parallel shifting of the condylar axis and the incisal point along the in&al guidance; (A&e) the mandibular occlusal plane after a protrusive gliding movement of the in&al point along the incised path and of the condylar axis along the condylar path. (J&j Auxiliary letter; (L) the position of the candylar axis in centric occlusion; (L1) tbcs position of the condylar axis after a protrusive movement along an imaginary path (LLJ parallef to the incisal guidance (AAJ; c.52) the condylar axis after a protrusive movement on the condylar path (LLJ; (L$ the position of the condylar axis after a protrusive movement if the inclination of condylar guidance is less than the inclination of the in&al guidance. (C) The molar point in the centric occlusion; fC,j the molar point after a parallel shifting of the in&al point and the condylar axis on, respectively, the incisal path and an imaginary condylar path (.Ud parallel to this; (Cd the position Of the molar point after a protrusive movement with the incisal point along the ineisal path (AA,) and the condylar axis along the condylar path (LLd. The angles y and r, correspond to the Christensen angle for a condylar guide inclination equal to &LL,. LILLa is equal to the c&l angle, WhtCh is the di%rence between the condylar guide in&nation and the in&al guide inelfira$&n (,T -a?. Consequently, the cusp angulation equ&s the incisal guide inclination (see Fig. 1) with a correction depending on the cld angle. Each angle of condylar guitianw, as well as each CM angle, has a corresponding Christensen angle, T&e calculation of the correction is based on the ChPfstensen angle and can be carried out in Table I. The result is shown in Table II. (Caj The position of the molar point after a protrusive movement, when the inclination of the in&al guidance is steeper than the inclination of the condylar guidance.

Volume Number

11

EFFECT

OF

INCISAL

GUIDANCE

ON

CUSI?

ANGULATION

51

u plus an angle that depends upon the cid angle (p - u). If the relation is inversed (/3 is less than u), the cusp angulation is equal to v minus an angle depending on the cid angle. The influence of the cid angle on the cusp angulation when v equals zero degrees is expressed in Table I, where the cid angle is equal to the inclination of condylar guidance because p - v = p - 0 = /?. Table II is in principle the same as the Cusp Incline Table, but the inclination of the condylar guidance has been replaced by the cid angle.
TABLE I.

CUSP

INCLINE

TABLE

CONDYLAR

GUIDE

ANGLE

( 0)

I______ 2%
ZMt EM1 ZPlPZ -___
This posterior M = table teeth) molar;

-___5
4O 3 2
indicates the (r )and the P = premolar. relation inclination

_____
25 20
15 10

10 8 6 4
between the of condylar

15 12 9O 6
sagittal guidance

20 16 12 8
cusp angle I,). (or

3o 24 18 12
tilting of cuspless

the

Table I is based on the following inclination of condylar guidance2 : ZM,

EM* ZMl ZP,P,

ratio between the cusp angulation

= = = = 5/1OB 4/roa s/lop z/lop

and the

Expressed by Swensons formula, u=O) is:

zM, 2% zM, ZP,P, = = = =

2 = v + d (/? S/10@ 4/10@ 3/10(8 2/1O(j3 on> 00) 0) 0)

u), the relation

(with

0 + 0 + 0 + 0 +

With an incisal guide inclination

ZM, zM, EM, EP,P,

equal to U, t.he relation is :

S/10@ 4/10(/3 3/10@ 2/1O(gl u) u) v) u)

+ =v + =v = v + = +

The factor d is consequently S/l0 for the third molar, 4/10 for the second molar, 3/10 for the first molar, and Z/10 for the premolars.

TABLE II. CID --.CID ANGLE (fi ___~-_I_. ---I__--.--_ LJ)

INCLINE TABLE ~~.I_-~~. ..-. ____

~.-.---___--_I_

CUSP ANGLE (I;)

g I lJ+ 12 ( u-j- 8 1 vt4 / --- ..__ __---.. ..~_~ ____ -._ ..__ _ .__. angle (or tilting of cuspless posterior teeth) (2: ) and, respectively, the condylar cusp angles is based on the CM angle, which is the difference between the fractfon of the distance (d) from the in&al point to the cusp in question.

BM, (d = S/lo)

ZM,(d=4/10)

ZM,

(d = 3/10)

E % g R z

ZFlPz (d = 2/10)

This (19) and condylar M =

-__ .-I___~_..~ table indicates the relation between the sagittal cusp the incisal (u) guide inclinations. The calculation of and the incisal guide inclinations (,3 - v) and the molar; P = premolar.

x:%4 1

EFFECT

OF

INCISAL

GUIDANCE

ON CUSP ANGULATION

53

The formula may also be expressed 9 = II + E cid, where cid is equal to the angle p -- V. Table II is based on this formula. For example, an incisal guide inclination of 10 degrees and a condylar guide inclination of 40 degrees give the following cusp angulations : ZM, = v + d(p ZM, = 10 + S/10(40 -

u), where d for M,

100) = 10 +

= S/10 15 = 25

In the same way, the angulation for the rest of the cusps may be calculated : EM, ZMl zp,p* = 10 + 1-p = 22 = 10 + 9 = 19
= 10 + 6 = 16

If the incisal guide inclination is equal to 40 degrees and the condylar guide inclination is equal to 10 degrees, the cusp angulation for Ma is:
zM, = 40 -I- 5/10(10 40) = 40 + 5/10(--30) = 40 15 = 25

In the same way, the angulation for the rest of the cusps may be calculated : XMZ
-,f, zp,p* = 40 - 12 = = 40 - 9 = zz Jo - (j = 28 31 34

The values in the tables are approximate. The difference between the approximate values and the exact values is less than 1 degree for cid angles up to 60 degrees.2
GYSIS FORMULA FOR THE SECOND MOLAR

Gysis formula for the angulation of the second molar3 is :

Angulation
of

M, =

Condyle guide inclination f Incisal guide inclination 2

of M, is SM,, the condylar guide inclination p + u. incisal guide inclination is V, the formula will be 8M, = 2 .

If the angulation

is p, and the

Gysis formula for M, is in accordance with Swensons formula for Ma, where :
zM, = u -t d(a - u) = u C S/10@ - v) = $ 13+u + l/2(@ - u) = 2

Gysis formula is assumed to be an empirical formula, giving the dentist a conception of the approximate cusp angulation and the setting of the incisal table of an ad, justable articulator.
INFLUENCE OF THE COMPENSATING CURVE OF OCCLUSION

Regarding the culculation of the cusp angle in Table II, the summits of the cusps are assumed to be situated in the plane of occlusion. By means of the compensating curve of occlusion, the cusp angulation may be reduced and still maintain antagonistic contact along the entire length of the facets by protrusive gliding

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CHRISTENSEN

J. Pros. Uen. Jan..Feb., 1961

movements. Taking advantage of the compensating curve, the protrusive facets ought to be reduced correspondingly to the cusp plane angle, which is the sagittal slope of the tooth to the occlusal plane.4 Setting cuspless posterior teeth (cusp angulation equals zero degrees) in COIIIplete dentures, where the incisal guidance equals zero degrees, the cusp pfanr angle equals the slope of the cusp angulation according to Table I.4 The same line of argument is applicable to positive incisal guide inclination. To attain :L smooth-running antagonistic contact along the entire length of the protrusive facets by gliding movements of the jaw, the slope of the cuspless posterior teeth may be set in accordance with the cusp angulation in Table TT.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The relation between the incisal guide inclination (u) , the cusp angulation (2). and the condylar guide inclination (p) can be expressed by the formula B = 11+ d (p - u), where d (the fraction of distance from the incisal point) has values for the respective cusps of M, = 5/10, M, = 4/10, M, = 3/10, and P,P, = 2110. The exactness of the formula is approximately 4 1 degree for differences between the condylar guide inclination and the incisal guide inclination until a difference (cid angle) of 60 degrees is reached. To attain balanced occlusion by using cuspless posterior teeth, it is necessary to regard the entire occlusal surface of the cuspless tooth as one single protrusion facet and set up the teeth accordingly.
REFERENCES

1.

Swenson, M. G.: Complete Dentures, ed. 2, St. Louis, 1947, The C. V. Mosby Company.

2. Christe&Zn?9fi T Cusp Angulation for CompleteDentures J PROS DEN. 8:91Q-923 1958. 3. Gysi, A.: kieferbkwegung und Zahnform, in Scheff and i>idhler, editors: Handbdh der Zahnheilkunde, Berlin and vienna, 1929,Urban and Schwarzenberg,vol. IV, p. 127. 4. Christey;? l&I. : The Compensatmg Curve for Complete Dentures, J. PROS. DEN. 10:637-

KANNIKGATEN 13 STAVANCER, NORWAY