Co-relation between face form and edentulous mandibular ridge form : a clinical study

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the correlation between face form and edentulous mandibular ridge formMaterial and Methods: 60 edentulous patients were selected, 20 of each facial type i.e. square, ovoid and tapered. Casts of the mandibular arch of these patients were made. Frontal facial photographs of the patient and cast was taken. Five anatomic points on each cast and five facial landmarks on photographs were identified. The landmarks on the cast were joined by straight lines using computer software and angles formed were digitally measured. Similar procedure was repeated for the facial photographs. The results were then statistically analyzed.Results: A definite correlation existed between the face form and the corresponding arch form. (p<0.007, highly significant through ANOVA and Tukey HSD test of Pair wise comparisons except bt’arch form however a similar correlation could not be established for tapered and ovoid facial forms.