Back to the basics –Is Gothic arch tracing really necessary?–

Abstract

Maxillomandibular registration plays an important role for the success of complete denture treatment. The methodology to determine horizontal mandibular position has a lack of objective indicators, leading the difficulty in maxillomandibular registration. Gothic arch tracing (GoA), a device to diagnose mandibular movements, has been used as one of methods to determine horizontal mandibular position for a long time. Occasions to use GoA, however, seem to be decreasing in recent years. Furthermore, GoA is not described in the recent textbooks of the United States, which shows reduced opportunities for the education about GoA. The topics of this manuscript are as below; 1) the usefulness and significance of GoA, 2) the problem and notice of GoA, 3) how to determine the goal of maxillomandibular registration. In addition, we would like to describe the necessity of GoA in the complete denture treatment.