If the condylar guidance is changed from 25 to 45 degrees, what should be adjusted to achieve balanced occlusion?

When the condylar guidance is increased from 25 to 45 degrees, achieving balanced occlusion becomes more complex due to the altered angles affecting occlusal relationships. The condylar guidance angle is crucial as it influences how the teeth move during functional activities like chewing.

Increasing this angle typically results in deeper cusp inclines, which can lead to interferences during lateral and protrusive movements. To maintain balanced occlusion, adjustments need to compensate for these changes in guidance.

Increasing the compensation curve is essential because it allows for a smoother transition and more harmonious occlusal relationships throughout the various jaw movements. This adjustment helps to facilitate balanced occlusion by ensuring that the paths of the teeth during function are well coordinated, thus minimizing potential occlusal interferences that can arise from such a significant change in condylar guidance.

In contrast, decreasing incisal guidance or reducing cusp height would not adequately address the need for balance given the increased angle of the condylar guidance. A dental occlusal splint change might be necessary in some cases, but it wouldn’t directly adjust the teeth's occlusal dynamics as effectively as increasing the compensation curve.