Date of Completion

8-24-2013

Embargo Period

8-16-2013

Advisors

John R. Agar DDS, MA; Thomas Taylor DDS, MSD; Arthur R Hand DDS, PhD

Field of Study

Dental Science

Degree

Master of Dental Science

Open Access

Campus Access

Abstract

Currently, there are no objective guidelines to consider when evaluating lip support for maxillary prosthetic rehabilitation. Objective differences in lip projection in patients wearing a conventional maxillary denture compared to a modified maxillary denture without a labial flange were evaluated.

Thirty two subjects esthetically satisfied with their maxillary complete denture were included in the study. Each existing maxillary complete denture was duplicated. Two full face digital images (frontal and profile) of subjects were taken with the duplicate denture placed intraorally. The labial flange on the same duplicate denture was then removed above the anterior teeth and 2 additional full face digital images (frontal and profile) were taken. For the profile images, 3 anatomic landmarks- subnasale, labrale superior and stomion were marked, and a ratio was calculated for their relationship to the nose alar boundary. The naso-labial angle was also measured. For frontal images, a ratio was calculated for thickness of the upper lip. Paired samples t-test was used to compare ratios and measurements for each anatomic landmark between photographs with and without a labial flange.

There was no statistically significant difference in lip projection between photographs with and without a labial flange for labrale superior and stomion. There was a statistically significant difference for subnasale and naso-labial angle, however, the magnitude of the difference was very small. There was no statistically significant difference in lip thickness. There was no association between differences in lip projection/lip thickness and patient-related factors such as gender and prior years of wearing a denture.

Major Advisor

Avinash Bidra, BDS, MS

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