The relationship between facial morphology and the structure of the alveolar part of the mandible in edentulous complete denture wearers. A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: Although the effect of involutional processes that occurs in the maxilla and mandible of edentulous subjects is obvious, the problem of factors definitely determining the direction of changes still remains unsolved. This study was aimed at determining the relationship between facial morphology and the structure of the alveolar part and the body of the mandible in edentulous complete denture wearers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five healthy edentulous Caucasian patients in the 70.5 ± 9 years of age group were examined. All patients underwent tele-X-ray examination with the presence of currently used dentures in the oral cavity. To assess morphological parameters of the facial skeleton, cephalograms were analyzed according to Ricketts and Mc Namara method. To assess the mandible morphology, the films were measured using the method of Tallgren.
RESULTS: The period of edentulism was found to be negatively correlated with the anterior segment of the body of the mandible within its symphysis. The parameter corresponding to the location of the first lower molar showed a directly proportional correlation with G'-Sn', G'-Me', Sn'-Me', N-Ans, N-Me, Ans-Me, Co-Gn and Co-Go. Positive correlations were found between the parameters describing contour of the alveolar part of the body of the mandible and mandibular symphysis and G'-Me', Sn'-Me', N-Me, Ans-Me describing the height of the occlusal vertical dimension.
CONCLUSION: The study showed a directly proportional correlation between the vertical occlusal dimension of the lower face conditioned by prosthetic rehabilitation and the height of the alveolar part in the lateral regions of the mandible.