Search Jensen
Q: What's the advantage of using the "Patient Horizontal Plane", versus the Camper Plane or the Frankfurt Plane?

A: a) It leaves an equal amount of room for the model between the upper and lower arms of the articulator.
b) It represents the patient looking straight ahead, not up or down, and the technician can know exactly which direction the patient would be looking in even if the patient isn't there. This can help with dentures.

Q: If a doctor wants to work with the Camper Plane or Frankfurt Plane rather than the Patient Horizontal Plane, is it possible with the Rotofix® facebow?

A: Yes. Use the reference plane indicator (part #48610). It screws on to the corner of the facebow, and swings out to the appropriate reference point on the patient's face. If necessary, you can also use the adjustable height nosebar ( #48690). In this case, the dentist must provide a specific condylar inclination.

Q: In addition to the hinge-axis, what is the third reference point in each reference plane, and which condylar inclination goes with which reference plane?

A: Frankfurt
The third anterior reference point is the "v" in the bone under your eye. The corresponding condylar inclination average value is 40°.

Camper
The third anterior reference point is the bone under your nose. The corresponding average value condylar inclination is 30°.

Patient Horizontal
The third anterior reference point is about mid-nose. The corresponding average value is 35°.

Q: How does each plane relate to the articulator?

A: The reference plane, no matter which one, will always be parallel with the top arm of the articulator. However, depending on which plane you use, the model will be mounted higher or lower, or at a steeper angle, in the articulator.

Frankfurt
When models are mounted, there will be a large amount of room between the upper arm of the articulator and the model, and a small amount of room between the lower arm of the articulator and the model.

Camper
There will be a small amount of room between the upper arm of the articulator and the model, and a large amount of room between the lower arm of the articulator and the model.

Patient Horizontal
There will be equal amounts of room between the model and the upper & lower arms of the articulator.