A Comparative Study of Mandibular Incisor Relation to the Lingual Frenum in Natural Dentition and in Complete Denture Wearers

The determination of the occlusal vertical dimension and proper positioning of the anterior teeth are major factors in making complete dentures which will give optimum service. In this study, efforts were made to evaluate the reliability of measurement of vertical distance between the anterosuperior most point on the lingual frenum and mesioincisal edges of mandibular central incisors in natural dentition among different age groups and in complete denture wearers. Three hundred dentulous subjects belonging to different age groups and hundred edentulous patients wearing complete dentures were selected. The dentulous group was divided into three groups, group I (20–40 years), group II (41–60 years), group III (61 years and above) and the edentulous subjects being group IV ( 40–60 years). Mandibular irreversible hydrocolloid impression (Alginate) was made using modified stock tray. In edentulous subjects impression was made with denture in position. The vertical distance between anterosuperior most point on the lingual frenum and mesioincisal edges of mandibular central incisors was measured on the dentulous casts and casts of complete denture wearer using dental surveyor and the vernier calipers. The values were tabulated and statistically analysed. The mean vertical distance between anterosuperior most point on the lingual frenum and mesioincisal edges of mandibular central incisors among dentulous subjects was 12.3 mm and among complete denture wearers was found to be 13.2 mm. There was no significant variation in the mean vertical distance among dentulous subjects belonging to different age groups. At 5 % significance level, statistically there was a significant difference in the mean vertical distance between group I and group IV; group II and group IV.