Relationship of natural occlusal plane with different anatomical landmarks

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the parallelism of natural maxillary occlusal plane with inter-pupillary line and ala-tragus line among dentate subjects. To evaluate anatomic relationship of natural mandibular occlusal plane with retromolar pad among dentate subjects Methodology: Front and profile photographs of 109 students of Fatima Jinnah Dental College with age ranging from 20 to 28 years were taken while holding the camper’s plane against the maxillary occlusal plane. The study was completed in six months. Photographs were imported in software AutoCAD(2017). An interpupillary line was drawn and angle with Camper’s plane was measured. On both profile pictures, line were drawn from base of the ala to the three different points on tragus (superior, middle and inferior). The angle between ala-tragus line and camper’s plane were measured. Intra-orally, height of the mandibular occlusal plane in relation to the retromolar pad was evaluated using a stainless steel scale. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 23. Student’s paired sample t test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were applied. Results: Horizontal parallelism of occlusal plane with inter-pupillary line was observed (mean angle 1.17 ±1.27). The angle between the occlusal plane and the inferior ala-tragus line was 4.25 and 4.50 degrees on right and left side, respectively. Intraorally, mandibular occlusal plane coincided with inferior (44%)  and middle third (44%)  of the retromolar pad. Conclusions: Inter-pupillary line and retromolar pad area (middle & inferior third) should be used as a guide in determination of plane of occlusion. Continuous...