The effect of anteroposterior inclination of the occlusal plane on biting force.

With the experimental design of this study the following conclusions were reached. 1. Biting force during maximum clenching was the greatest when the occlusal plane was made parallel to the ala-tragus line. It decreased when the occlusal plane was inclined about 5 degrees anteriorly or about 5 degrees posteriorly. 2. The efficiency of biting force exertion during maximum clenching showed the best value when the occlusal plane was made parallel to the ala-tragus line. 3. Muscle activity during clenching at various given forces was least when the occlusal plane was made parallel to the ala-tragus line. The anteroposterior inclination of the occlusal plane tends to affect the biting force, and the method with the ala-tragus line seems to be the most reasonable for occlusal plane orientation.