Correlation of "K" plane to occlusal plane and three different ala-tragal lines in dentulous subjects with different skeletal forms: A cephalometric study.

Abstract

Orientation of the occlusal plane is an important clinical procedure for complete denture fabrication. An attempt had been made to reconstruct the occlusal plane using a different reference plane. The aim of this study was to find the correlation of the "K" plane to the occlusal plane and to assess the angular deviation between the K-plane to the occlusal plane (KO) with different skeletal forms. An in vivo observational study was conducted on dentulous subjects having Class I dental occlusion with different skeletal forms undergoing orthodontic treatment. The study was conducted on 54 subjects aged 18-30 years. Metallic balls (3 mm in diameter) were attached to the desired landmarks, and a lateral cephalogram was taken for each subject. Cephalometric analysis was done using the Dolphin Imaging software, and the values obtained were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. The values obtained were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis using simple descriptive analysis, Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Pearson's correlation. A positive correlation was found between KO with a mean angular deviation of 8.59° ± 3.05°. The angle was found to be steeper in skeletal Class II subjects. Clinical application of the K-plane to use as a reference plane to orient the posterior occlusal plane can enhance the treatment outcome for a removable prosthesis. The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the practical restoration of the occlusal plane in different skeletal forms.