A practical, convenient, and accurate method of measuring the physiologic rest position and occlusal vertical dimension by using a vertical dimension recorder (VDR) was described by Makzoume.
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The VDR consists of a plastic 20-cm ruler suspended from a rectangular plate and rod attached to the forehead and a square plate with a needle pointer attached to the chin. The plates are attached to the forehead and chin with double-sided foam adhesive tape. In individuals with a beard, it is impractical to attach the needle pointer to the square plate with adhesive tape. Hence, the VDR cannot be used in individuals with a beard. A straightforward technique for attaching the pointer to a beard by using a snap hair clip is described. The snap hair clip provides a strong and stable grip.Procedure
- 1.Select a 4.5-cm metallic triangular snap hair clip (Conair Corp) and remove the color coating over the base of the clip with an acrylic trimming bur.
- 2.Weld a 6-cm length of 0.016×0.022 inch straight rectangular stainless steel arch wire (D-Tech Orthodontics Ltd) to the base of the clip with a spot welder (Spot Welder Regular; Orthocare).
- 3.With orthodontic pliers (Universal Orthodontic Plier; Oracraft), bend the welded wire at 90 degrees to the base of the clip with the prongs in locked position (Fig. 1).
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Figure 1Snap hair clip in unlocked position with wire welded at base. - 4.Unlock the prongs of the clip and snap the clip into the beard at the chin, engaging hair close to skin (Fig. 2).
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Figure 2Measuring occlusal vertical dimension and physiologic rest position by directly reading from ruler with wire pointer hair clip assembly snapped in to beard. - 5.Confirm that the wire pointer is perpendicular to the ruler and along the midline of the face.
- 6.Adjust the patient’s head position to parallel the Frankfurt horizontal plane to the floor.
- 7.Measure the physiologic rest position and occlusal vertical dimension by directly reading from the ruler (Fig. 2).
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Dr Shankar P. Dange, Dean, Government Dental College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, for his academic encouragement and constant support.
Reference
- A procedure for directly measuring the physiologic rest position and occlusal vertical dimension.J Prosthet Dent. 2017; 117: 697-698
Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 15, 2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 by the Editorial Council for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.
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