An evaluation of condyle position in centric relation obtained by manipulation of the mandible with and without leaf gauge deprogramming.

Centric relation records of 19 dental students were obtained with leaf gauges and by mandibular manipulation. The condyle/fossa relationships were subsequently evaluated with enhanced sagittal cephalometry. Both clinical methods of obtaining centric relation revealed considerable variation of the condyle location within the glenoid fossa. Only 10% of the patients showed a condyle position "upward and forward" in the fossa with the leaf gauge method. In the mandibular manipulation technique of obtaining centric relation, 10% of the patients showed an "upward and rearward" position of the condyle.