Clinical Considerations while increasing Occlusal Vertical Dimension

A decrease in occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) may result from tooth structure loss and extraction of posterior teeth, and it affects the esthetics, function, comfort, and lower facial height (LFH). Rehabilitation of patients with worn dentitions may require increase in OVD and interarch distance to create space for restorative materials, improve esthetics, and develop physiologic occlusion. It is usually advisable to assess esthetics, function, LFH, and response of the stomatognathic system to increased OVD by means of removable or fixed provisional appliances before definitive treatment. The following case report presents the multitude of factors considered in planning amount of OVD increase keeping in view its impact on LFH and facial esthetics, during rehabilitation of a patient with severely attrided dentition.