Ethnic variations in sagittal condylar guidance angles

Observations of a Chinese population seem to indicate that certain ethnic differences exist which may invalidate the use of dental articulators constructed as the result of measurements made on a Caucasian population. A group of Caucasian students had been examined for a previous study. Upper and lower study models of the jaws of a group of Singaporean Chinese students were articulated in the tooth position on a Dentatus ARL articulator. Measurements were made of the angle between the occlusal plane and the Frankfort plane, the S. C. G. As and the Balkwill angle.

The results indicate that considerable anatomical differences do exist between these two distinctive ethnic groups. These findings have important implications for all restorative and prosthetic dentistry which requires the use of a dental articulator.