[Study of the inclination angle between the edentulous upper and lower alveolar ridge in the sagittal plane]

Angle of inclination between the upper and lower edentulous alveolar ridge in the sagittal plane was examined on 72 patients (55 woman and 17 men) in centric occlusion. Photos were taken by a special camera (Polaroid MACRO 5 SLR) of the functional casts mounted in average value articulators, on a special squared-film, from the left and right side. The angle between the lines connecting mesially the midline of the alveolar ridge, distally the highest point of the tuber alveolar maxillae and the line drown through the stop-lines, respectively was measured on both sides with 1 degree precision. Distally open angle (max. 7 degrees) was found in 11% of the examine group. The alveolar ridge lines were parallel in only 3% of the cases. Mesially open angle (max. 20 degrees) was found at 86%. Statistical analysis has shown, that there is a significant difference between men and women as well as the left and right side.