The effect of increasing vertical dimension of occlusion on facial aesthetics

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effect of increasing the vertical dimension of occlusion on facial aesthetics. Setting: General practice. Method: Questionnaires were sent to 96 patients who had been treated in the practice during the period of July 1998 to December 2000, resulting in an overall 72% response rate. All these patients had had their occlusal vertical dimension increased. Photographs of patients were taken before, during and after treatment. The questionnai re asked their opinion on the effects of the treatment on their facial features. To obtain an objective view to substantiate the opinions of the patients, a panel of five judges reviewed the before and after photographs and filled in their own questionnaires. Results: Of the patients who responded to the questionnaire, 79.7% said they looked younger after the treatment. The panel thought 81.2% of the patients treated whose photographs they reviewed looked younger Conclusion: Increasing the vertical dimension of occlusion can have far reaching effects on facial aesthetics, not just on the peri-oral areas but on the whole face.