[Variations of clinical rest position in complete denture-wearing subjects]

With a view to proposing concrete grounds for the measurement of the rest vertical dimension on the face in the establishment of the vertical dimension of occlusion for edentulous patients, 20 complete denture-wearing subjects were made to take a clinical rest position by 4 different denture-wearing patterns, i.e. setting both dentures (UL), setting maxillary denture only (U), setting mandibular denture only (L) and completely edentulously (O), and were measured for the distance between 2 points on the face by slide calipers masking the reading part. The data were statistically analyzed and the following results were obtained. 1) Rest vertical dimension was largest for L, and significant differences were noted between UL, O, U and L, but not between UL and O, between UL and U and between O and U. 2) No significant difference in rest vertical dimension was noted between subjects of not more than 65 years and those of not less than 65 years. 3) No significant difference in rest vertical dimension was noted between the group of subjects of not more than 6 edentulous years and that of subjects of not less than 6 edentulous years. 4) The above results give suggestions to the measurement and evaluation of the vertical dimension between 2 points on the face when jaws are in the vertical relationship with the clinical rest position, in the establishment of the vertical dimension of occlusion.