Statement of problem: Incorrect 3-dimensional orientation of a dental cast may compromise the functional and esthetic result of prosthetic restorations.
Purpose: This study assessed the reliability of a new method to transfer the 3-dimensional orientation of the occlusal plane with a postural face-bow.
Material and methods: The 3-dimensional position of the occlusal plane in 20 subjects (age 20 to 32 years) with a complete dentition in both arches was assessed with a postural face-bow. An irreversible hydrocolloid impression of the maxillary arch was made for each subject and poured in dental stone. The maxillary arch was mounted in an articulator with use of a postural face-bow. The 3-dimensional position of the occlusal plane was then measured and compared to the values obtained with the use of a previously certified, computerized, noninvasive instrument. This instrument digitizes the coordinates of dental and facial landmarks and then calculates the spatial position of the occlusal plane. For each subject, the direct assessment and the face-bow measurement were compared by calculating the absolute difference of the following: the inclination of the occlusal plane relative to the true vertical, frontal plane projection (angle alpha) and sagittal plane projection (angle beta); intercondylar distance; distance of the center of gravity of the anterior part of the maxillary arch to the midpoint of the intercondylar axis; and the maxillary right canine to right condylion distance. Descriptive statistics of the differences were calculated.
Results: The postural face-bow appeared reliable and compared well to the computerized assessment, with mean differences ranging from 2.5 degrees to 3 degrees.
Conclusion: In the population tested, a postural face-bow reliably reproduced the spatial orientation of the occlusal plane relative to the true horizontal plane. This position was transferred to an articulator with limited errors.