Determination of the vertical dimension by cranio-facial measurement using clinical and cephalometric analysis : comparative study

الملخص EN

Background : evaluating the maxillo-mandibular vertical dimension is of great importance in constructing successful denture prosthesis, whoever it is a tedious process which may be misinterpreted leading to false readings.

Hence with the aid of cephalometric analysis a cephalogram may present a graphic representation of a problem to be met.

This study aimed to introduce a new mathematical method for determination the occlusal vertical dimension (O.V.D.).

Materials and methods: The first part was conducted to derive a clinical ratio between the O.V.D.

and the ear-eye distance, as well as to derive a radio graphical ratio between the same distances using a computerized calibration system on a lateral cephalometric view.

The sample of this part consists of 34 dentate subjects (17 male and 17 female) of age range between 21-23 years old.

The second part of this study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of clinical and radio graphical application of the ratios that were derived from the first part in estimating the O.V.D.

from the ear-eye distance measured in dentate subjects.

The sample used in this part was 14 subjects (7 male and 7 female) of the same age range for the clinical and radio graphical ratio.

Results: The clinical ratio of O.V.D.

/ ear-eye distance is of significance in determination of O.V.D.

for both dentulous and edentulous subjects, while the radio graphical ratio of O.V.D.

/ ear-eye distance is of significance in determination of O.V.D.

in dentulous subjects only.

There is a highly significant difference between the male and female ear-eye distance (clinically) and significant difference between male and female ear-eye distance radiographic ally.

As well as, there is a non significant correlation between the clinical O.V.D.

with ear-eye distance in male but significant in female and total groups, and there is a significant correlation between them radio graphically in female but of non significant correlation in male and total groups.

Conclusion : the ratio of O.V.D.

/ ear-eye distance could play a helpful role in the determination of O.V.D.