Determination of the occlusal plane in completely edentulous patient by computerized cephalometric method (A comparative study). Part II
Abstract
Aim: to investigate the level of alatragus line of dentulous nearest to be parallel to the three levels of occlusal plane orientation in the complete denture construction, by evaluation of cephalometric measurements. Designing new special direct and indirect computer digitalization program, to analyze the cephalometric radiographs, or their tracing in the best treatment for edentulous patient. Materials and Methods: Twenty dentate participants in addition to the same group of part I (20 edentulous participants) fulfill specific criteria to investigate the validity of using the alatragus line as visible soft tissue guidance in orienting the occlusal plane. Eighty lateral cephalometric radiographs were done (one for each dentate, and three radiographs; one for each set of complete dentures). Special computerized program named CoDiC, which was developed in Matlab and Photoshop programs to analyze digital the colour density of the hard and soft tissue with tracing. Results: showed the occlusal plane of dentulous participants was parallel to alatragus line located between the middle and inferior point of the tragus of the ear. This result was coincide with results of occlusal plane orientation of edentulous patient. Computerized digitalization program CoDiC was designed and applied for cephalometric tracing and analysis to improve treatment of edentulous participants. Conclusions: There is a strong relationship between the occlusal plane and other craniofacial measurements especially those determinei-ng skeletal jaw relationshipand those determining facial types.
