Use of digital photography in the reconstruction of the occlusal plane orientation

• Published in: Medicinski glasnik Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 243 - 248
• Main Authors: Robert Antonić, Marko Krajnović, Ketij Mehulić, Robert Ćelić, Marko Guberina, Nikola Petričević, Josipa Borčić, Asja Čelebić
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton 01-08-2009
• Subjects: Angle Class I; digital photograph; inclination; occlusal plane; prosthodontic
• ISSN: 1840-0132; 1840-2445

Aim This study evaluated whether the occlusal plane measurementson digital photographs were reliable for the reconstructionof occlusal plane.Methods Forty-two subjects (25 female and 17 male subjects,aged 19 to 30 years) with all teeth and Angle Class I participated.Irreversible hydrocolloid impressions were made and the castswere poured in dental stone (ISO Type I) and finally mounted inthe S.A.M. 2 “P”, articulator (S.A.M. Praezisiontechnik, GmbH,Munich, Germany) by a quick mount face-bow transfer. Lateraldigital photographs were taken from a distance of 1.5 m in a naturalhead position with a subject in erect posture. A Fox plane wasplaced over the maxillary dental arch. A quick-mounting face-bowwas positioned. The angles between the articulator horizontalplane and the occlusal plane (AHP-OP), as well as those betweenthe face bow and the Fox plane (FB-FP) were measured, and thesignificance of the difference between the means was tested by thet-test (p<0.05).Results The mean value of AHP-OP angle was 8.56 ± 3.1 degreesand the mean value of FB-FP angle was 8.80 ± 4.2 degrees. Therewas no significant difference between the male and the female subjects(p<0.05). There was no significant difference between AHPOPand FB-FP angles (p<0.05).Conclusion Measurements of occlusal plane inclination fromdigital photographs could be helpful in future prosthodontic reconstructiontreatment.