Reference Position “RP”

“RP” explanation

It’s thenot forcedbackward end position of the condyle in the fossa. The location of the Reference Position is indicated as a reference position and it is reproducible. In this position the condyles are in the structure of the articular disk, which is in turn in contact with the eminentia articularis (condyle and eminentia aren’t in contact with each other, but separated by the articular disk). This position concerns the articulation and it is not determined by the occlusion. The Reference Position is therefore a starting point for all the mandible movements: we need to start from here to realise a fixed, removable or functional prosthesis.