Evaluation of Hamular Notch-Incisive Papilla Plane as a Useful Reference in Establishing the Occlusal Plane.

Background Establishment of occlusal plane with hamular notch- incisive papilla plane as a useful reference helps to reduce the chairside time taken for jaw relation during complete denture fabrication. Objective To determine the hamular notch-incisive papilla plane (HIP) as a useful reference plane in establishing the occlusal plane. Method This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 100 dental students by obtaining the maxillary cast from an impression made. The data collected were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Paired t-test, Independent t-test and Pearson correlation was applied for statistical analysis. Result The vertical distance from hamular notch-incisive papilla plane and occlusal plane at the level of mesio-incisal line angle of maxillary central incisor and mesio-palatal cusp tips of maxillary first molar showed statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) on both right and left sides. There was statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between hamular notch-incisive papilla plane and occlusal plane on right and left sides, between right and left mesio-palatal cusp tips of maxillary central incisors from hamular notch-incisive papilla plane. Hamular notch-incisive papilla plane, mesioincisal line angle of right maxillary central incisor and mesio-incisal line angle of left maxillary central incisor had mild but significant correlation with age. The parallelism between hamular notch-incisive papilla plane and occlusal plane within the range of 2 mm was 62% on right side and 75% on left side. Conclusion Hamular notch-incisive papilla plane can be used as a practical method for establishing the occlusal plane tentatively.