Efecto del aumento de la dimensión vertical oclusal en la posición natural de cabeza en pacientes portadores de prótesis removible

Objective

To determine the variation in the natural head positionon increasing the Occlusal Vertical Dimension (OVD) in patients who use removable dentures.

Patients and methods

An analytical, quasi-experimental study was conducted on 56 elderly patients volunteers, carriers of removal full and partial (only with group V remaining) dentures seen in the Odontology Faculty of the University of Chile in 2011. An analysis was made of the head position in a sagittal direction to change the OVD, gradually increasing the occlusal height by 5, 10 and 15 millimeters, using standardized profile photographs of the natural head position. Hypothesis: The increase in the OVD is associated with a posterior rotation of the head.

Results

All the volunteers showed a change in the natural head position, posteriorly rotated to change the OVD. The ANOVA test showed that this change was not statistically different. There was a positive association between a gradual change in OVD and the degree of head rotation. The Pearson test showed a statistical association.

Conclusion

It could be concluded from the results that, the greater the increase in occlusal height, the greater is the posterior rotation of the head. The findings of this study support the concept that there is an anatomical integration between the different elements that make up the cranio-cervico-mandibular unit, acting together against the variation of one of its components.