Variations in mandibular rest positions with and without dentures in place

As part of a seven-year study concerning variations in denture techniques, seven radiographs were made for 52 patients. Three films of the series were made with dentures in the mouth and the patient at the vertical relation of rest; three films were made with the dentures out of the mouth and the patient at the vertical relation of rest; and one film was made with the patient at the vertical relation of occlusion. Differences were computed using an average of the three films for both groups. It was determined that the vertical relation of rest is affected by the presence of dentures in the mouth. However, this difference was not predictable, since with the dentures out, 25 per cent of the patients showed an increase in vertical relation, 59.6 per cent showed a decrease, and 15.4 per cent showed very little change.