Vertical Dimension

Vertical dimension is the term used to describe the distance your mouth is held open by your dentures. In other words if you were to remove your lower denture and then close together you would appear to have an extreme vertical dimension loss. Obviously this would be an exaggeration but even a little loss can have some startling effects. With every year you wear your dentures the bony ridge that lies underneath will resorb slowly allowing your denture to settle in deeper. Denture teeth will also wear down, although porcelain very slowly. The combination of these two things results in vertical loss. From an esthetic point of view this loss in dimension can appear as a more sunken in face, with a deepening in the creases at the corners of your mouth and for some the appearance of a frown. If this over closure continues, you will also note the jaw beginning to thrust further forward adding even more to a crumpled expression. Loss in vertical also affects your ability to chew as your TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint) begins to work beyond its natural range, decreasing your power and your effective chewing ability.

Long term effects of the pressure created on the TMJ can result in a number of symptoms; a clicking or popping sound when chewing, itchiness in ears, pain or inflammation in the joint, or loss of hearing. Are all possible side effects of a diminished vertical and TMJ syndrome.

On a daily basis I encounter patients who are well on their way with these sorts of problems due to the fact they have been wearing the same dentures in excess of ten years with no notice of these slow changes taking place. Fortunately dentures can be redesigned in a manner that holds your jaws further apart, returning you to your more natural and healthy profile. The cosmetic benefits are sometimes startling with changes in appearance being similar to a face-lift. Visible lines and wrinkles have been reduced, and lips appear fuller and more supported.

The old expression "if it ain't broke don't fix it" is a poor application when looking after your dentures, and although with a solid rehabilitation program we can reverse many of the detrimental effects of vertical loss, cases that have gone too far may never be fully recovered.

This is why it is so important to make annual check ups part of your routine.