Occlusal plane location in edentulous patients: a review

Occlusal plane orientation is an important factor in the construction of a complete denture. Occlusal plane could be oriented using landmarks in the mandibular arch as well as in the maxillary arch. In the mandibular arch there are few landmarks which could be used to orient the occlusal plane like the retromolar pad, corner of the lips (lower lip length) whereas the maxillary arch has a number of landmarks, of which the ala-tragal line is the most commonly used and the same being the most controversial. In the following article different landmarks and its accuracy for orientating the occlusal plane in an edentulous subject as studied by various authors has been discussed.