The effect of increasing occlusal vertical dimension on face height

This study evaluated the effect of increasing occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) on the face height in completely dentate young adults.

Faces of 22 subjects were photographed in a standardized manner in an anterior view. Sequential photographs were taken at intercuspation and clinical rest position, with four complete arch maxillary occlusal overlays increasing OVD in interincisal increments of 2, 4, 6, and 8 mm. Objective measurements were made from the photographs using facial reference markers. Ten observers made subjective evaluations of the resulting changes in face height using the sequential photographs randomly presented.

Measurements of the facial markers showed that on increasing OVD, a corresponding change in lower face height was 50% of the interincisal increase in intercuspation and 40% for clinical rest position. ANOVA for repeated measures showed a statistically significant effect of the intraoral increase in OVD on lower face height. However, subjective results showed that observers were not capable of detecting changes in face height caused by an intraoral increase in OVD (2 to 6 mm intrinsically). ANOVA for the difference between dentists and nondentists showed a minimal, but significant, difference between the two groups, with dentists erring slightly less.

Attempts to alter face height by changing OVD within the range of 2 to 6 mm for esthetic reasons may not be visually distinguishable.