Hinge Axis: concepts, theories and clinical significance - A review

The hinge axis is an imaginary line around which the condyles can rotate without translation. Terminal hinge position is the most retruded hinge position and it is significant because it is a learnable, repeatable and recordable position that coincides with the position of centric relation. There are many schools of thought regarding hinge axis. The proponents of Gnathology say that there is one transverse hinge axis common to both condyles which can be accurately located. The proponents of transographics claim that each condyle has a different transverse hinge axis and that a transograph is the only instrument that can duplicate this. Still others claim that an exact duplication of jaw movement is not possible on any machine. The aim of this article is to throw light on concepts, various thoeries and rationale of hinge axis.