Layperson's Preference Regarding Orientation of Transverse Occlusal Plane from the Frontal Perspective in Fabrication of a Complete Denture: A Cross-sectional Study

Background and aim: Assessment of dentofacial asymmetries and other discrepancies that can affect the horizontal reference lines should be considered initially as a part of the esthetic diagnosis. Some variations of facial asymmetry are not considered an esthetic liability. So the aim of the present study is to determine a layperson's preference regarding transverse occlusal plane (TOP) orientation in fabrication of a complete denture.

Materials and methods: A total of 100 subjects who are edentulous and have enrolled for complete denture fabrication were selected. Photograph of the patient's face was obtained from the frontal perspective on the day of try-in. The image obtained was edited to orient the occlusal plane in three different cants, zero degree, two degrees, and four degrees to the inter-pupillary line (IL) and presented to the patient. The obtained results were statistically analyzed.

Results: The observed data was analyzed using Friedman's test and Wilcoxon test was used for comparing ordinal data between groups. There was a statistically significant difference in acceptance depending on angulation, χ2(2) = 183.2, p = 0.0001.

Conclusion: A cant of two degrees is not perceived by the subject but some subjects' preference of occlusal plane may be altered according to the commissural canting which cannot be incorporated in complete denture fabrication.