Prosthetic Rehabilitation and Its Effect on Head Posture.

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Edentulism, the irreversible loss of all teeth, is linked to reduced joint mobility and altered head posture.
• Natural head position relies on balanced cranio-cervical, myofascial, and dental occlusion.
• Tooth loss can disrupt spinal cord patency and postural balance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in head posture among edentulous individuals before and after prosthetic rehabilitation.
• To assess the impact of removable complete dentures on cranio-vertical angulation.

Main Methods:

• 16 completely edentulous subjects received removable complete dentures.
• Lateral photographs were captured pre-rehabilitation and at 30 minutes, 2 days, and 30 days post-rehabilitation.
• The cranio-vertical angle was measured using Kinovea software and statistically analyzed.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant increase in cranio-vertical angulation was observed post-prosthetic rehabilitation.
• This indicates a mild extension of the head following denture insertion.

Conclusions:

• Removable denture prostheses positively influence head posture in edentulous patients.
• Prosthetic rehabilitation can aid in achieving and maintaining a stable head posture.