The position of the occlusal plane in natural and artificial dentitions as related to other craniofacial planes.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed at determining the most reliable ala-tragus line as a guide for the orientation of the occlusal plane in complete denture patients by use of cephalometric landmarks on dentate volunteers.


METHODS
Analysis was made for prosthodontically related craniofacial reference lines and angles of lateral cephalometric radiographs taken for 47 dentate adults. Variables were determined and data were analyzed using SPSS (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL).


RESULTS
Occlusal plane angle formed between the occlusal plane and Camper's plane had the lowest mean value in the angle formed with Camper's I, which represents the measure taken from the superior border of the tragus of the ear with a score of 2.1°. The highest was measured in the angle formed with Camper's III with a score of 6.1°, while the angle formed with Camper's II was 3.2°. The differences between the three planes in relation to the occlusal plane was significant (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The superior border of the tragus with the inferior border of the ala of the nose was most accurate in orienting the occlusal plane.
Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Irbid, Jordan. firasalquran@yahoo.com
Firas A M
FA
Al Quran
Abdalla
A
Hazza'a
Nabeel
N
Al Nahass
D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D003768:Dental Occlusion, Centric; D003817:Dentition; D003824:Denture, Complete; D004431:Ear, External / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007574:Jaw Relation Record; D008297:Male; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000473:pathology; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D055815:Young Adult