Comparison of Face Anthropometry and Digital 2D-Face Photogrammetry as Methods for Predicting Vertical Dimension of Occlusion.

Purpose: To determine the values of 15 craniofacial linear distances in the Serbian ethnic group using and comparing two methods of face-anthropometric and digital 2D-face-photogrammetric measurement and to determine the correlations between distances that can be predictive or can serve as proxy for occlusal vertical dimension (OVD).

Materials and methods: A total of 90 adults were selected. Facial distance as a tool to measure the OVD was measured as Sn-Gn (the distance between the septum of the nose [Sn] and the tip of the chin [Gn]). Face-anthropometric measurements were made with a Boley gauge (Buffalo Dental). Digital 2D-photogrammetric facial measurements were performed using the computer program Dr Ceph (FYI Technologies).

Results: The mean value for the distance Sn-Gn was 63.55 using face-anthropometric measurement (Sn-Gn[f]) and 63.56 using 2D-face-photogrammetic measurement (Sn-Gn[ph]) Multivariate regression analysis revealed that Sn-Gn(f) depended on ExL-ExR(f) P = .001; ZyL-ZyR(f) P = .077; N-Sn(f) P = .096; Sn-Sto(f) P = .043; and sex. Analysis also identified that Sn-Gn(ph) depended on ExL-ExR(ph) P < .001; EnL-EnR(ph) P = .029; N-Sn(ph) P = .013; Sn-Sto(ph) P = .001; and sex.

Conclusions: A comparison of facial anthropometry and digital 2D-facial photogrammetry revealed no statistical significance differences in the values obtained and showed that facial photogrammetry could be as reliable a method as facial anthropometry.