Original article
O/55
Stomatologie (2008) 105
DOI 10.1007/s00715-008-0055-8
Printed in Austria
© Springer-Verlag 2008
Reconstruction of the curve of Spee
J.-P. Ré1, C. Perez1, A. Giraudeau1, P. Ager 2, A. El Zoghby3, J.-D. Orthlieb1
1 Unité d’Occlusodontologie, Faculté d’Odontologie, Universtité de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
2 TMD Clinic, University Dental Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
3 St.
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University of Beyrouth,
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Libanon
Aim: The construction of a flat occlusal plane or one
showing a haphazard curvature does not correspond to
the concept of “best practice” in restorative dentistry.
Unlike a flat reconstruction, a correct occlusal curvature
allows mandibular translation without occlusal interfer-
ences in the posterior segment, Furthermore masticato-
ry efficiency on the working side is not lost. In this way, a
better distribution of the axial load and protection
against T.M.J. overloading is achieved.
Materials and methods: A simple cephalometric
was used to determine the optimal radius of the circle.
This curvature was transferred using a template, which
was then placed in the appropriate position on the ar-
ticulator; in order to facilitate the prosthetic construc-
tion of an optimised Curve of Spee.
Conclusion: An appropriately constructed tem-
plate, when fitted to an articulator may be useful to guide
a clinician when designing a wax-up or prosthetic con-
struction. This could be of benefit when constructing a
surgical stent for optimum implant placement.
Key words: Occlusion plane, curve of Spee, prosthodon-
tic reconstruction, wax-up, articulator, cephalometry.
Introduction
During oral growth and development, the resulting oc-
clusal plane does not arise simply by chance. It has been
postulated for almost a century, that the anteroposterior
occlusal plane is curved because of the sagittal inclina-
tion of the teeth. The original article was written in 1890
by Ferdinand Graff Spee (1890), a German anatomist
(1855–1937), and it has been recently represented (Spee
1980). This anteroposterior curve, or curve of Spee, was
defined as the anatomical curve established by the oc-
clusal alignment of the teeth, as projected onto the me-
dian plane, beginning with the cusp tip of the mandibu-
lar canine and following the buccal cusp tips of the pre-
molar and molar teeth, continuing through the anterior
border of the mandibular ramus, and ending at the an-
terior aspect of the mandibular condyle (Glossary of
prothsodontic terms 1994). The curve of Spee was uni-
Correspondence: Jean-Philippe Ré, Université de la Méditerranée,
Faculté d’Odontologie, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille,
France, E-mail: jeanphilippe.re@free.fr
Stomatologie
Stomatologie
versally likened to a part of a circle. In 1899, Bonwill
proposed 4 inches (101.6 mm) for the dimension of his
“mandibular triangle”. Later Monson (1932) proposed 4
inches as the radius of this circle. This value of 4 inches
has come to be accepted as an average value during
prosthetic reconstruction where the curve of Spee is to
be reproduced (Dawson 1989). However, Christensen
(1959) reminds us, that Wilson, in 1920, after measuring
300 mandibles, found only 6% of them in agreement
with the 4 inch radius proposed by Bonwill. In fact, the
mean radius of the curve, initially proposed by Spee
himself, was much lower, 65–70 millimetres in adults.
Similar values were obtained by Hitchcock: 69.1 milli-
metres ± 12.3 (Hitchcock 1983), and Orthlieb: 83.5 mil-
limetres (Standard deviation: 21.3, based on 470 obser-
vations) (Orthlieb 1997).
In patients requiring extensive reconstruction of
their posterior dentition, it is easier to produce a flat oc-
clusal plane, with posterior disclusion in lateral excur-
sions obtained by large canine guidance. It is clear how-
ever that this simple occlusal scheme does not often oc-
cur naturally in normal (unrestored) human dentitions.
Unlike this flat reconstruction, a correct occlusal curva-
ture allows mandibular movements without lateral or
protrusive interferences whilst maintaining masticato-
ry function on the working side, allowing a more even
distribution of axial chewing forces (Orthlieb 1997) and
ultimately protecting the temporomandibular joints
from overloading (Minagi et al. 1997). Therefore, in spite
of there are not strict evidence at this time, in extensive
restorative treatment, it is probably preferable to take
these biomechanical factors into account, by attempt-
ing to harmonise the occlusal curvature with the pa-
tient’s existing dento-skeletal structures.
Dawson (1989) described reconstruction of the
curve of Spee with a flag technique (The Broadrick Oc-
clusal Plane Analyzer) which incorporated the same ra-
dius for almost all patients. This radius of 4 inches was
proposed at the beginning of the 20th century, and the
flag technique was recently redescribed, in the same
way, by Lynch and McConnell (2002). The flag technique,
in the authors opinion, is neither practical nor precise.
Using this method : 1) the radius of occlusal curvature is
often an arbitrary choice, 2) the center of the circle and
the teeth are not in the same vertical plane, 3) the use of
Reconstruction of the curve of Spee  1/2008 
 Original article
Fig. 1.  Sagittal view of the initial situation
a compass during the wax up stage is unreliable and dif-
ficult to control. Once it has been determined that resto-
ration of all or most of the posterior teeth is necessary, it
is reasonable to assume that the curvature of the occlu-
sal plane should ideally be established in harmony with
the facial morphology of each individual (Farella et al.
2002). In this way the curve of Spee can be optimised
with respect to the existing dento-skeletal structures.
The cephalometric method easily allows the option of
observing the effect of various different radii of the
curve of Spee upon the dento-skeletal structures, and
the proposed reconstruction. An individualized tem-
plate can replace the flag and compass. The template is
placed in the same vertical plane as the dental struc-
tures, so it is a useful tool to guide and control the wax-
up during the design phase of the construction.
The objectives of this paper are to propose a sim-
ple cephalometric method to determine an optimal ra-
dius of the curve of Spee for every patient, and to create
an easy technique to transfer this curvature to the ar-
ticulator in order to achieve the prosthetic reconstruc-
tion of the optimal curve of Spee.
Technique
The prosthetic reconstruction of the curve of Spee has
two stages: the determination of the radius of curvature
(cephalometric analysis), and the transfer of this infor-
mation to the articulator (template). The technique is
described below on a case which required extensive re-
construction of the posterior dentition (Fig. 1, 2).
Cephalometric analysis
Cephalometrics is defined as the measurement of the
cranial-skeletal landmarks by means of lateral plane
view radiographs of the head. Cephalometry has been,
and remains to a large degree, the simplest available
method that permits the investigation of the spatial re-
lationships of the deep and superficial cranial and
­dental structures. It is relatively non-invasive and non-
destructive, thus producing a high information yield at
a low physiological cost (Jacobson 1995).
A simple cephalometric analysis could help the
dentist to determine a more suitable organization of the
occlusion in the sagittal plane (Fig. 3):
. Prior to determining the posterior occlusal scheme;
reference position, vertical dimension, and the po-
 1/2008 �����������������������������������
Reconstruction of the curve of Spee
Fig. 2.  Occlusal view of the initial situation
sition of anterior teeth must be defined and when
this has been done the effect of variations can be
simulated on the cephalometric tracing.
2. The cephalometric tracing analysis can provide the
spatial coordinates of any points, the occlusal arc,
and the angles to determine the posterior occlusal
organization – for example the inclination of the oc-
clusal plane. Two
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critical points to determine the
curve of Spee are easily located. By definition, an
optimal curve of Spee must join the mean center of
a line joining the condylar heads, between right and
left (Posterior Point) to the mean occlusal point of
mandibular incisor or canine (Anterior Point). Even
though it is not included in the defintion of the curve
of Spee, the mandibular incisal edge is normally
crossed by the curve because sagittal cephalometric
radiographs superimpose dento-skeletal structures
to give a two dimensional view (Orthlieb
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1997)�.
3. The limitation of the posterior prosthetic height is
defined by the outline of the molars and the alveo-
lar bone.
4. A transparent film containing concentric circles is
overlaid on the sagittal cephalometric radiograph
of the patient. The concentric circles are drawn
Fig. 3.  Selection of the radius: transparent film with concentric cir-
cles overlaid on the cephalometric radiograph to choose the optimal
radius between mandibular anterior dental group (blue) and condy-
lar point (yellow) (the tested radius is 110 mm)
Stomatologie
 Original article

with a radius varying from 30 millimetres to

180 millimetres, at 1 cm intervals. Manipulating
the transparent film on the radiograph, the opera-
tor attempts to choose the best circle that crosses
the posterior and anterior definition points of the
curve of Spee and allows the best distribution of the
posterior prosthetic space. Therefore, the optimum
radius of the curve of Spee is established in relation
to the dento-skeletal structures specific to the pa-
tient (Fig. 4a, b, c).

Fig. 5�. �������������
Selection of the
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template from a selection of disks
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of different
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radii

Template
If diagnostic casts are properly mounted with an accu-
rate facebow on a semi- or fully-adjustable articulator,
then the construction of an acceptable curve of Spee
a
can be obtained using the template:
. The template, with the appropriate radius, is select-
ed from a collection of clear plastic disks which
have radii of curvature corresponding to the circles
on the transparent film overlay used previously
(Fig. 5).
2. The maxillary cast is then removed and set aside for
later use.
3. The hinge axis is represented by a rigid plastic tube
placed between the two condylar balls on the ar-
ticulator.
4. The template is then placed between the hinge axis
and the mandibular canine. It allows the laboratory
technician to correctly determine the height of each
b cusp tip during the wax up procedure, or allows the
modelling of a wax rim, stent, or silicone guide in
other prosthetic techniques (Fig. 6–8).

c
Fig. 4.  Possible choices for the radius of the curve of Spee between
the two reference points: the condylar point ant the incisor point.
a Radius: 110 mm: the curve is too flat, the crown height of the max-
illary posterior teeth is too short. b Radius: 60 mm: the curve is too
deep, the crown height of the mandibular posterior teeth is too short. Fig. 6�. �������������������������������������������������
The selected template guides the construction of �������������
the curve of
c Radius: 75 mm: the curve allows an balanced distribution of the Spee, its radius is 75 mm (diameter 150 mm). It is placed between
posterior crown height the canine and the hinge axis

Stomatologie Reconstruction of the curve of Spee  1/2008 

 Original article
Fig. 7�.  Wax-up
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of the
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mandibular teeth following the template
Fig. 8.  The template gives the height of the mandibular cusps
Discussion
A mean radius of curve of Spee
The cephalometric determination of the optimal radius
of the Curve of Spee is an individualized procedure
which avoids the use of any statistical norms.
The flag method
On the articulator, the use of a Broadrick Flag is advo-
cated in the Pankey-Mann technique (Lynch and
­McConnell 2002). This technique was adapted for re-
storative dentistry by Pankey , originally from anthro-
pologic research. Arising from the problem of the selec-
tion of the radius, the Broadrick Flag technique presents
two distinct disadvantages. First, the reference points of
the construction (the teeth and the center of the circle)
 1/2008 �����������������������������������
Reconstruction of the curve of Spee
are not in the same sagittal vertical plane. Second, it is
not easy to use compasses to position the cusp tips dur-
ing the laboratory wax up.
The template method
Orthlieb first published this technique in 1986 (Orthlieb
1986). In the template technique the canine teeth, pos-
terior teeth and hinge axis are all in the same vertical
plane, and the thickness of the template guides the
technician, so that it is easy to work with wax, silicone
stent, or ceramic. The inclination of the anterior guid-
ance must be secondarily adapted to this determination
of the occlusal curvature to allow mandibular transla-
tion without occlusal interferences but also without loss
of functional proximity of posterior teeth on the work-
ing side without loss of masticatory efficiency, and per-
haps loss of protection of temporomandibular joints
from overloading.
Summary
A simple cephalometric analysis to determine the opti-
mal radius of the curve of Spee, and the transfer of this
curvature by means of a template, placed in the right
position on the articulator, allows for the successful
prosthetic construction of the curve of Spee.
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