Use of a patient’s old complete denture to determine vertical dimension of occlusion
Majid Bissasu, DDS, PhDa
Faculty of Dentistry, Al Baahth University, Homs, Syria
The vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) is the
distance measured between 2 points when the occlud-
ing members are in contact.1 Determination of the
correct VDO for an edentulous patient is generally
agreed to be one of the most important steps in mak-
ing a complete denture. Many methods have been used
to determine the VDO in edentulous patients,2-13 but
this task can be difficult. The patient’s old complete
denture, if available, can be useful.11,12 A simple
method for determining the VDO and occlusal plane
by using the patient’s existing complete denture is pre-
sented.
PROCEDURE
This procedure may be adopted only if the existing Fig. 1. Measurement of vertical height between cusp tip and
VDO and occlusal plane of the existing denture are tissue side of denture base.
within normal limits. If changes are indicated, this
method provides a reliable starting point.
1. Make maxillary and mandibular preliminary
impressions in the usual manner.
2. Make maxillary and mandibular record bases and
wax occlusion rims.
3. Place the patient’s denture in his/her mouth, and
examine the horizontal and vertical relationships.
If necessary, stabilize the denture by relining it
with zinc oxide–eugenol or elastomeric materials.
4. Measure the vertical height between the tip of the
maxillary lingual cusp of the first premolar and
second molar and the tissue side of the patient’s
denture base, on both sides of the arch, with a
modified boley gauge (Fig. 1).
5. Mark with a pencil where the guage touches the
tissue side of the maxillary and the mandibular Fig. 2. Adjusted vertical height of wax occlusion rim.
denture base. Put similar marks on the tissue side
of the record bases.
6. Measure the vertical height between the seats of
SUMMARY
the maxillary first premolar and second molar cusp
tips and the tissue side of the mandibular denture This procedure is a simple and accurate method for
base. determining the VDO and occlusal plane of an eden-
7. Adjust the vertical height of the maxillary and tulous patient with the use of his/her existing denture.
mandibular wax occlusion rims to correspond to When the measurements of the patient’s old denture
the measurements made on the patient’s denture are sent to the dental technician with the final impres-
(Fig. 2). sion, the proper vertical height of the wax occlusion
8. Try the wax occlusion rims in the patient’s mouth, rims can be made in the laboratory. Thus, the time
making minor adjustments if necessary. required for recording the jaw relationships is signifi-
9. Try-in and finish the denture in the conventional cantly reduced.
manner.
REFERENCES
aAssociate Professor, Department of Removable Prosthodontics. 1. Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms. 7th ed. J Prosthet Dent 1999;81:39-
J Prosthet Dent 2001;85:413-4. 110.
APRIL 2001 THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY 413
THE JOURNAL OF PROSTHETIC DENTISTRY BISSASU
2. Turner LC. The profile tracer: method for obtaining accurate pre-extrac- 11. Winkler S. Essentials of complete denture prosthodontics. Philadelphia,
tion records. J Prosthet Dent 1969;21:364-70. PA: WB Saunders; 1979. p. 706-7.
3. Smith DE. The reliability of pre-extraction records for complete dentures. 12. Hickey JC, Zarb GA, Bolender CL. Boucher’s prosthodontic treatment for
J Prosthet Dent 1971;25:592-608. edentulous patients. 9th ed. St. Louis, MO: CV Mosby; 1985. p. 267-67.
4. Thompson JR. The rest position of the mandible and its significance to 13. Fayz F, Eslami A. Determination of occlusal vertical dimension: a litera-
dental science. J Am Dent Assoc 1964;33:151-80. ture review. J Prosthet Dent 1988;59:321-3.
5. Silverman MM. The speaking method in measuring vertical dimension. J
Prosthet Dent 1953;3:193-9. Reprint requests to:
6. Shanahan TE. Physiologic vertical dimension and centric relation. J DR MAJID BISSASU
Prosthet Dent 1956;6:741-7. PO BOX 768
7. Boos RH. Intermaxillary relation established by biting power. J Am Dent HOMS
Assoc 1940;27:1129-9. SYRIA
8. Lytle RB. Vertical relation of occlusion by the patient’s neuromuscular FAX: (963)31-462-345
perception. J Prosthet Dent 1964;14:12-21.
9. McGee GF. Use of facial measurements in determining vertical dimen- Copyright © 2001 by The Editorial Council of The Journal of Prosthetic
sion. J Am Dent Assoc 1947;35:342-50. Dentistry.
10. Wills FM. Features of the face involved in full denture prosthesis. Dent 0022-3913/2001/$35.00 + 0. 10/4/114279
Cosmos 1935;77:851-4. doi:10.1067/mpr.2001.114279
The size of occlusal rest seats prepared for removable par-
Noteworthy Abstracts tial dentures
of the Culwick PF, Howell PG, Faigenblum MJ. Br Dent J
Current Literature 2000;189:318-22.
Purpose. This aim of this study was to determine whether rest seats prepared for a removable
partial denture (RPD) by a group of general dentists would differ in size and shape when com-
pared with seats prepared by either a group of postgraduate students or their academic
instructors.
Material and methods. The occlusal surfaces of many plastic teeth were scanned by a laser pro-
filometer (Proscan 1000, Scantron Industrial Products Ltd, Taunton, UK). Each tooth then was
placed in a set of phantom head articulated dental arches. Thirty dental practitioners, 16 post-
graduate students, and 11 academic teachers were asked to prepare rest seats in the mesial
marginal ridge area suitable for the fabrication of a cast RPD. After preparation, each tooth was
removed from the dental arch and rescanned; the data were converted to gray level images for
measurements of the width, length, and area of each rest seat preparation. Depth of preparation
was calculated as the difference between the preparation and postpreparation scanned profiles.
Statistical analyses were performed by the commercial computer software program Minitab
(Minitab Inc, State College, Pa.).
Results. There was wide variation in the size of individual rest seat preparations among the 57
dentists. There were no statistically significant differences in the measured parameters of rest seats
prepared by postgraduate students and academics, so the data for these 2 groups were combined.
The length, width, and area of the rest seats prepared by the postgraduate/academic combined
group were significantly greater than those prepared by the dental practitioner group. However,
there was no significant difference in depth of preparation measurements between the 2 groups.
The outline form of rest seats prepared by the dental practitioner group was more rounded, with
sharply defined margins; in contrast, the postgraduate/academic group prepared rest seats that
were triangular and smooth.
Conclusion. The authors conclude that a “refresher” course on tooth preparation modifications
for RPDs for general dentists would improve the long-term success of these types of prostheses.
31 References. —RP Renner
414 VOLUME 85 NUMBER 4
