Position of the occlusal plane in natural and artificial teeth.

Abstract A roentgenographic cephalometric investigation was conducted to compare the position of the occlusal plane of the artificial teeth with that of the natural teeth which existed before the remaining teeth were extracted. The occlusal plane of the trial dentures was first oriented to parallel the alatragus line and then modified so the occlusal surfaces of the second molars were placed at the level of the middle third of the retromolar pad. This location of the artificial occlusal plane was found to be at a lower level than the natural one in the posterior region. Hence, our findings indicate that the occlusal plane should be positioned so the second molars are placed at the level of the upper third of the retromolar pad.