A device for occlusal plane determination

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Prosthodontics
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Accurate occlusal plane orientation is vital for recording jaw relationships in edentulous patients.
• Current methods, like using Fox's plane with interpupillary and ala-tragus lines, are often time-consuming and prone to errors.
• This process can be particularly challenging for novice dental students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel device for accurately marking the occlusal plane on wax rims.
• To simplify and expedite the process of orienting the occlusal plane in edentulous patients.
• To enhance the efficiency and reduce errors in recording jaw relationships.

Main Methods:

• The study presents a new device designed to directly mark the occlusal plane on wax rims.
• The device utilizes the interpupillary line anteriorly and ala-tragus lines posteriorly as reference points.
• The marked occlusal plane is intended to be parallel to these established anatomical lines.

Main Results:

• The device allows for the occlusal plane to be marked in a single, straightforward step.
• This method is designed to be more efficient than traditional repetitive adjustments.
• The device aims to increase operator efficiency and reduce the subjective "educated guess" element.

Conclusions:

• The presented device offers a simplified, one-step method for orienting the occlusal plane.
• It addresses the limitations of conventional techniques by saving time and increasing accuracy.
• This innovation can benefit dental practitioners, especially students, in achieving correct jaw relationship recordings.