The Occlusal Plane

As one can see in example B above, the skull base has been accurately referenced to the “HIP” reference marks on the Acculiner mounting table according to instructions.  It is evident that the skull is oriented in an upward head tilted orientation.  This is not physiologic, but rather would represent a strained and abnormal head posture resulting in the maxillary occlusal plane to be incorrectly oriented.
Example A demonstrates a more physiologic skull orientation where the HIP references would in actually be angled downward (posterior to anterior) and parallel to the maxillary occlusal plane.  The maxillary occlusal plane is angled relative to the horizontal level mounting table.  Lateral cephalograms repeatedly confirm this observation when the patient is unposed and presents with no abnormal muscles strain in the masticatory regions, neck and shoulders.