RESUMO
AIM: This study was undertaken with an aim to establish a relationship between normognathic (Class I), retrognathic (Class II), and prognathic (Class III) ridge relation and superior, middle, and inferior levels of the ala-tragus line in edentulous individuals, by utilizing arbitrary and cephalometric methods. METHODOLOGY: Ninety edentulous male patients were selected for the study, and after establishing tentative jaw relation, radiopaque ball bearings were attached on three levels of the tragus and inferior part of the ala of the nose. Furthermore, orthodontic wire was attached to maxillary occlusal rims. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken, and tracings were carried out to compare and to evaluate the cephalometrically derived ridge relations with that of the visually analyzed ridge relations based on the mounted casts in relation to the ala-tragus line. The results obtained were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA test, and multiple comparisons were carried out using the Bonferroni tests. The interoperator variability for obtaining ridge relations using visual analysis and the cephalometrically obtained ridge relations were analyzed using the Kappa statistics. RESULTS: The result obtained states that 78 participants out of 90 participants are in total agreement with the Kappa value of 0.8. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that for Class I and Class III, the inferior part of the tragus forming the ala-tragus line, and for Class II, the middle part of the tragus should be considered for establishing the occlusal plane.
