A study of the proximity of the Broadrick ideal occlusal curve to the existing occlusal curve in dentate patients.

Increasingly, clinicians are called upon to restore dentitions, which have become mutilated because of tooth loss, wear, trauma and disease. In many cases, restoration of the occlusal plane may be required. A simple tool, which provides the laboratory technician with an approximation of the patient's original occlusal curve may be useful. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of the occlusal curve designed using the Broadrick flag. A total of 100 patients with intact dental arches were examined, and deviations from the Broadrick curve were measured on scanned study models using a software package. Simple descriptive statistics were used to investigate the data, and intra-examiner reliability was examined using a Bland Altman plot. The results demonstrated little deviation from the Broadrick curve in natural adult dentitions, mean deviation 0.1262 mm, 95% confidence interval -0.32 to 0.2844. Good intra-examiner reliability was achieved. It can be concluded that the Broadrick flag method may be of use in determining an appropriate occlusal curve for dentate individuals with deranged occlusal planes.