Mainak Kanti Saha, Purvi Dhariwal, Vinod V., Anurag Jindal, Mahendra Dave,
Prerna Agrawal

ABSTRACT

Aims: To determine the parallelism of the occlusal plane and the effect of age and sex on the three most commonly used reference points on the tragus in a sample Indore-Malwa (Madhya Pradesh, India) population. Objective: To evaluate the best posterior reference point of the ala-tragus line for orientation of the plane of occlusion in a sample Central India Dentate Population. Methods and Material: A total of 200 subjects (Male-100, Female – 100) in the age group of 18-50 years with complete dentition were selected for the present study. They were grouped as-Group A: 18-30 y, Group B: 31-50 y. Right lateral profile photographs were obtained with subjects having fox plane placed intraorally parallel to occlusal plane. Reference points corresponding to inferior, middle or superior border of tragus and inferior border of ala of nose were marked and were joined. Images were analyzed photometrically. The most parallel relationship was determined. Results: The occlusal plane was found to be more parallel to Ala-tragus line when inferior border of tragus was considered as posterior reference point. There was non-significant correlation found between age (p>0.05) and sex (p>0.05) in both the age groups with the level of Ala-Tragus line. Conclusions: Inferior tragal line is the most common posterior tragal reference point for orientation of plane of occlusion in 76.7% of the subjects in a sample Indore-Malwa population and there was no effect of age and sex on the level of ala tragus line. Clinical Implications: To find out the best posterior reference for orientation of the occlusion plane for the complete denture prostheses.