Vertical Dimension of Occlusion in Edentulous Patients obtained by Tamaki’s and Beresin and Schiesser’s Methods: a Comparative Study

The determination of Vertical Dimension of Occlusion (VDO) in total edentulous patients provides several methods, proposed in dental literature. The Objectives: of this study was to compare the data obtained with Tamaki’s and Beresin & Schiesser methods to determine VDO in experimental made dentures and correlate these data with the VDO of the dentures patients were wearing. Thirty total edentulous patients were selected according the following characteristics: age ranging from 38 to 77, clinically favorable residual ridge, normal mandibular movements and no sign or symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders evaluated through questionnaire. The Methods: used followed Tamaki’s method, which uses as reference the Rest Vertical Dimension, and Beresin & Schiesser’s method, which uses deglutition. Results: showed mean to the former method of 48,28 (±5,09) mm and for the second one 49,67(±5,22). When results of the Vertical Dimension of Occlusion of the old dentures were compared with the new ones, a mean increase of 3,02mm and 4,40mm was found respectively. T-Student Test showed significant statistically difference in measurements of VDO between these two methods (p<0,001). Conclusions: were that the use of these two different methods provides different VDO. However, in spite of the method used, it is important to consider facial aspects, dental and facial esthetic and patient confort.