RESUMO
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Anatomic landmarks have been used in the orientation of occlusal plane and the determination of vertical dimension for edentulous patients. Such as labial vestibules of anterior region and hamular notches, retromolar pads of posterior region are very useful anatomic landmarks for fabrication of occlusion rim because they are to be identified on master casts. Therefore, if average distances between landmarks of maxillae and mandible in dentate subjects are measured and applied, not only occlusal plane but also vertical dimension can be established initially. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to measure vertical distances between anatomic landmarks and to present a guide to the orientation of occlusal plane and the determination of vertical dimension of edentulous patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Upper and lower border-molded casts were made in 93 Korean dentulous subjects, mean age 25 years. Incisal edges of central incisors, bottoms of labial vestibules, hamular notches and the half level of retromolar pads were marked on casts. Measurements of vertical distances from incisal edge of central incisor to the bottom of labial vestibule, between upper and lower bottoms of labial vestibules, from hamular notch to retromolar pad and from hamular notch to the occlusal plane established by the incisal edge of maxillary central incisor and mesiopalatal cusps of both maxillary first molars were made on each cast. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: 1. The mean distance from the incisal edge of central incisor to the bottom of labial vestibule was 20.8mm(SD 1.7) on upper casts and 17.3mm(SD 1.4) on lower casts. 2. The mean distance between both bottoms of labial vestibules of upper and lower casts was 35.0mm(SD 2.7). 3. The mean distance from hamular notch to the half level of retromolar pad was 5.0mm(SD 1.3). 4. The mean distance from hamular notch to occlusal plane was 7.9mm(SD 1.5). 5. Distances from incisal edge of central incisor to labial vestibule on lower casts(p<0.01) and from hamular notch to retromolar pad(p<0.0001) were greater in male than in female.