An anthropometric study to co-relate between the conventional occlusal vertical dimension and distance between tip of thumb to tip of index finger- An in vivo study

Background: Establishment of occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) is one of the important tasks for successful prosthodontic therapy for function, esthetics and comfort to the edentulous patients. Though various methods are advocated, each has its own limitations and no single method has been formulated. In the present anthropometric study the correlation between vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) and distance between tip of thumb to tip of index finger has been evaluated in edentulous patients. The results of this study can be useful in determining OVD in edentulous patients. Aim: The aim of the study was to compare and correlate between the vertical dimension of occlusion by Conventional method and Anthropometric method. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 edentulous volunteers comprising of 20 males and 20 females were selected. The distance from tip of thumb to tip of index finger of the right hand and vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) was measured with a digital vernier calliper. This Anthropometric method is then compared and correlated with Conventional method of vertical dimension of occlusion. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was determined to evaluate the correlation in the studied parameters. The level of significance was kept as ≤0.05 at 95% confidence interval. Results: Statistically significant correlation was seen with all the parameters studied. Pearson correlation of VDO and distance between tip of thumb to tip of index finger was 0.993, where p value= 0.157 for males and Pearson correlation of VDO and distance between tip of thumb to tip of index finger was 0.999, where p value= 0.530 for females which was highly significant. Combined male and females Pearson correlation of VDO and distance between tip of thumb to tip of index finger 0.996, where p value = 0.001 level. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that VDO between conventional method and anthropometric method both in edentulous male and female patients were highly correlated.