An alternative technique for transferring ala-tragus plane to occlusion rim using a novel device

Abstract

Establishing an optimal occlusal plane and adjusting the prosthesis in accordance to it are a prerequisite before initiating any prosthodontic rehabilitation procedure. A salient step in this procedure is to transfer the established plane on the record blocks or mounted diagnostic casts with accuracy. Although conventional equipment such as the fox plane analyzer and its variants are commonly used for aligning the occlusal plane in accordance to the ala-tragus plane, it is time-consuming and tedious to transfer the same onto the occlusion rims for dental students and young practitioners. The proposed design usage would be more time-saving as the rim need not be taken out from the patient’s mouth for minute corrections of the occlusal plane each time a cant is suspected using conventional fox plane analyzing device, making it a single-step transfer. Therefore, this article proposes an equipment design for a quick transfer of the ala-tragus plane to the wax occlusion rims. Clinical implication: The proposed equipment design may prove beneficial for clinicians as well as dental students to transfer the ala-tragus plane on wax occlusion rims in a single step during jaw relation, hence reducing the chair side time and contributing to the accuracy of procedure.