A plane of orientation with an extracranial anterior point of reference

An extracranial anterior point of reference, namely, a standard line level (bubble gauge), was used to capture the true horizontal plane relative to NHP. NHP relative to true horizontal plane was found to be convenient and easy to locate and record. The vertical fluctuation of NHP varied from as narrow as +/- 0.18 inch to as wide as +/- 0.34 inch. This esthetically coordinated plane of orientation may provide the dentist and laboratory technician a mounting that more closely simulates the clinical situation. The proposed technique may be beneficial for those patients requiring difficult prosthodontic and maxillofacial reconstruction, as well as those requiring combined orthodontic, oral surgery, and prosthodontic treatment.