Determining the occlusal plane with the Camper’s plane

indicator
Altug Kazanoglu, DMD, MS,a and John W. Unger, DDSb
Medical College of Virginia, School of Dentistry, Richmond, Va.

Camper’s line has been used by many dentists as a reference in determining the
plane of occlusion in edentulous patients. This article describes an instrument that
provides the dentist with a clear and accurate assessment of the occlusal plane in
relation to Camper’s line. (J PROSTHET DENT 1992;67:499-501.)

Peter Camper, anatomist, physician, and surgeon1

is known to the dental profession for his description of “a
horizontal line drawn through the lower part of the nose
and the orifice of the ear,” which became known as Camp-
er’s lines2 His well-illustrated diagrams showed a baseline
drawn through the anterior nasal spine and the center of
the auditory meatus as a bony approximation of the
nasomeatal guideline.“, 4 Kurt” wrote that Broomell’j dis-
covered this plane relationship, and Snow7 popularized the ’
concept.
This article presents a device called Camper’s plane in-
dicator to be used for establishing the plane of occlusion in
complete dentures. This device is simple, practical, and
accurate with all the necessary parts assembled in one in-
strument and, in addition, the procedure can be performed
by only one person.
aAssociate Professor, Department of Removable Prosthodontics.
bChairman, Associate Professor, Department of Removable
Prosthodontics.
10/l/31026
LITERATURE REVIEW
Over the years, the definition of Camper’s line has
received a great deal of interpretati0n.s Although the
determinants for the location of the occlusal plane have
varied among dentists,g-15most practitioners responding to
a survey determined the posterior plane of occlusion by
Camper’s line. l6 Some reported a close relationship be-
tween the ala-tragus line and the occlusal plane.17
In one technique, the established occlusal plane was re-
lated to Camper’s line with the blade of a knifels or with
a tongue blade held against the maxillary wax occlusion
rim. lg, 2o A device called the Occlusal plane indicator
(Dentsply International Inc.) or Fox planezl has been used
by another investigator to determine an acceptable occlusal
plane. The device is used by placing the metal occlusal
plane indicator against the occlusal surface of the maxillary
wax rim while the extraoral extension of the plate is made
parallel anteriorly with the interpupillary line or at right
angles to the long axis of the patient’s face and coincident
with the ala-tragus line. To accomplish this procedure, an
additional item such as a plastic block,‘O cardboard,22

Fig. 1. Camper’s plane indicator (A) Lower plate; (B) post; (C) upper plate; and (0) col-
lar.

THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY 499

 KAZANOGLU AND UNGER

Fig. 2. Lateral view of Camper’s plane indicator device in use with patient. Note
relationship of upper plate to Camper’s plane.

Fig. 3. Frontal view of Camper’s plane indicator device in use with patient.

tongue blade, ruler, or an instrument with a straight edge
is needed. The dentist holds the Fox plane device against
the maxillary wax occlusion rim with one hand while hold-
ing the straight-edged instrument with the other. Some-
times an assistant or the patient is asked to keep the Fox
plane device in position while the dentist checks the plane
of occlusion from the front and side to determine whether
parallelism has been achieved. Because of the difficulty of
establishing parallelism, some have suggested making full-
face and profile photographs of a patient while the Fox
plane device is in position and marking the ala-tragus as
well as interpupillary lines on the prints to ensure parallel-
ism between the lines and the Fox plane device.” A
J-shaped aluminum device called a J-plane is also suggest-
ed23to be used along with the Fox plane device.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
The Camper’s Plane Indicator* device is composed of
two metal plates, of 16-gauge 6061 aluminum alloy and an
*Patent pending. Medical Innovations International Inc., Rich-
mond, Va.

500 APRIL 1992 VOLUME 87 NUMBER 4

CAMPER’S PLANE INDICATOR

aluminum rod 92inch in diameter and 6 ‘/4 inches long, with edentulous patients is to be made parallel with Camper’s
a % x ‘/is inch keyway along the full length of the rod (Fig. plane.
1). The plates have a clearance hole to accept the ‘/z inch
diameter post,. Opposite sides of the collar have a clear an- REFERENCES
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indicate whether the anterior occlusion rim is parallel with
the patient’s interpupillary line (Fig. 3). Adjustments may Reprint requests to:
be made until the plane is parallel. DR. AI ,,r 1
TIT K~7ANOrlll 1,
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA
SUMMARY SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
521 N. 11~~ ST., Box 566
An instrument called the Camper’s plane indicator is RICHMOND, VA 23298-0566
described. It is easy to use when the plane of occlusion of

THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY 501