Reliable Ala-Tragus Line for the Orientation of Occlusal Plane by Cephalometry

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the most reliable ala-tragus line for the orientation of the occlusal plane in edentulous patients during complete denture fabrication by cephalometry. Materials and Methods: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 37 dentate subjects were taken at maximum intercuspation. Steel balls were used as radio opaque markers which were adhered to superior border, middle point, and inferior border of tragus as well as the inferior border of ala of nose. Lead foil was cemented to cover the mesio-palatal cusp of maxillary first molar. Tracings of cephalogram were done. Angle between ala-tragus superior, ala-tragus middle and ala-tragus inferior in relation to occlusal plane were measured. Variables were determined and data were analyzed using SPSS version 17 (SPSS, Inc. Chicago, III). Results: The angle formed between occlusal plane and ala tragus middle had lowest mean value of 2.39°. The highest was measured with ala tragus superior 5.18°, while the angle formed with ala tragus inferior was 3.60°. The differences between the three planes in relation to the occlusal plane were significantly different in total subjects as well as in both males and females (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Statistical analysis showed that the middle point of the tragus with the inferior border of the ala of the nose was most accurate in orienting the occlusal plane.

[1]  S. Shaikh,et al.  Relationship Between Occlusal Plane and Three Levels of Ala Tragus line in Dentulous and Partially Dentulous Patients in Different Age Groups: A Pilot Study. , 2015, Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR.

[2]  Sandeep Kumar,et al.  A determination of occlusal plane comparing different levels of the tragus to form ala-tragal line or Camper's line: A photographic study , 2013, The journal of advanced prosthodontics.

[3]  R. Thombare,et al.  Cephalometrically assessing the validity of superior, middle and inferior tragus points on ala-tragus line while establishing the occlusal plane in edentulous patient , 2013, The journal of advanced prosthodontics.

[4]  S. Kailasam,et al.  Lateral Cephalometric Radiographs: An Adjunct in Positioning the Occlusal Plane in Natural and Artificial Dentitions as Related to other Craniofacial Planes , 2011 .

[5]  Gaurav Singh,et al.  Ala Tragus Line – A Cephalometric Evaluation , 2010 .

[6]  F. A. Al Quran,et al.  The position of the occlusal plane in natural and artificial dentitions as related to other craniofacial planes. , 2010, Journal of prosthodontics : official journal of the American College of Prosthodontists.

[7]  Katayoun Sadr,et al.  A Study of Parallelism of the Occlusal Plane and Ala-Tragus Line , 2009, Journal of dental research, dental clinics, dental prospects.

[8]  C. R. Ramachandran,et al.  Occlusal plane orientation: a statistical and clinical analysis in different clinical situations. , 2008, Journal of prosthodontics : official journal of the American College of Prosthodontists.

[9]  S. Weiner,et al.  The effect of gingival retraction procedures on periodontal indices and crevicular fluid cytokine levels: a pilot study. , 2006, Journal of prosthodontics : official journal of the American College of Prosthodontists.

[10]  Kamal Shigli,et al.  Validity of soft tissue landmarks in determining the occlusal plane , 2005 .

[11]  K. Bhargava,et al.  A cephalometric study comparing the occlusal plane in dentulous and edentulous subjects in relation to the maxillomandibular space. , 1996, The Journal of prosthetic dentistry.

[12]  G. Polyzois,et al.  Cephalometrically predicted occlusal plane: implications in removable prosthodontics. , 1991, The Journal of prosthetic dentistry.

[13]  R. Ow,et al.  Orientation of the plane of occlusion. , 1990, The Journal of prosthetic dentistry.

[14]  R. Ow,et al.  The relationship of upper facial proportions and the plane of occlusion to anatomic reference planes. , 1989, The Journal of prosthetic dentistry.

[15]  D Sinobad,et al.  The position of the occlusal plane in dentulous subjects with various skeletal jaw-relationships. , 1988, Journal of oral rehabilitation.

[16]  H. Fields.  Boucher's prosthodontic treatment for edentulous patients , 1986 .

[17]  H. Rich.  Evaluation and registration of the H.I.P. plane of occlusion. , 1982, Australian dental journal.

[18]  B Levin,et al.  Results of a survey of complete denture procedures taught in American and Canadian dental schools. , 1969, The Journal of prosthetic dentistry.

[19]  Y. H. Ismail,et al.  Position of the occlusal plane in natural and artificial teeth. , 1968, The Journal of prosthetic dentistry.

[20]  R. Hartono.  The occlusal plane in relation to facial types. , 1967, The Journal of prosthetic dentistry.

[21]  The Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms: Ninth Edition. , 2017, The Journal of prosthetic dentistry.

[22]  B. Darvell,et al.  A cephalometric method to determine the angulation of the occlusal plane in edentulous patients. , 1986, The Journal of prosthetic dentistry.

[23]  V. J. Miller,et al.  The ala-tragus line in complete denture prosthodontics. , 1985, The Journal of prosthetic dentistry.

[24]  G. Latta,et al.  A study of the position of the parotid papilla relative to the occlusal plane. , 1985, The Journal of prosthetic dentistry (Print).

[25]  R. Sloane,et al.  A guide to the orientation of the plane of occlusion , 1953 .