Importance of the joint relationship in the treatment of edentulous patients: a systematic review.

Abstract

Introduction: Prosthetic rehabilitation in completely edentulous patients remains a clinical challenge due to the lack of dental references to guide the ideal mandibular position. In this context, the articular relationship plays a decisive role by providing the biomechanical basis for occlusal stability, masticatory function, and neuromuscular adaptation. Materials and methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases, and including 21 articles published between 2015 and 2025 that analyzed the articular relationship and functional outcomes of prosthetic rehabilitation in edentulous patients. Results: The studies showed that the condylar position from which rehabilitation is planned affects masticatory efficiency, denture stability, and functional comfort. Stable articular relationships, particularly those based on centric relation, demonstrated better neuromuscular adaptation and fewer signs of temporomandibular dysfunction. Graphic and digital methods provided greater accuracy in registration compared with conventional techniques, while edentulism without a defined articular reference was associated with condylar displacement and persistent structural alterations. Conclusion: The articular relationship represents an essential axis for achieving stable and functional prosthetic rehabilitations. Evidence supports the use of centric relation as the most physiological and predictable reference, although the lack of methodological standardization and variability in recording techniques limit the establishment of a universal clinical protocol.