Influence of lip support on the soft‐tissue profile of complete denture wearers

Abstract

Complete dentures change the soft-tissue profile, although the exact relationship remains unclear. This study examined the relationship between the presence and degree of lip support provided by dentures and the lateral views of the facial appearance of edentulous patients. The subjects were five edentulous patients (three men and two women). Their facial appearances with experimental record blocks, with and without their complete dentures, were measured using a three-dimensional laser measuring system. The experimental record block for each subject had different conditions in the anteroposterior direction anteriorly but the same vertical dimensions posteriorly. The lateral digital facial images were displayed on a computer monitor, and the linear and angular measurements were analysed using image analysis software. The nasolabial angle was smaller and the labial points projected more with excessive lip support versus with deficient support. Moreover, the counter of the nose was affected by the labial flange of the record base, particularly in the facial appearance of one subject with highly atrophic residual ridges. The lip support affected the lower facial soft-tissue profile, including the lower part of the nose; the nasolabial angle and positional relationship between the lips and Ricketts's esthetic plane (E plane) are useful indexes for examining lip support.

Age- and sex-related changes in three-dimensional lip morphology

“…A deep knowledge of the dimensions of facial structures in the different ages, as well as in the two sexes, is therefore mandatory for a correct reconstruction of the global facial appearance both in forensic reconstructions (facial aging, facial reconstruction from skeletal remnants), and in patients (via surgery, orthodontics, dental prostheses, or even lip fillers) [10,13,16,20,27,29]. In particular, considering the esthetic characteristics of the mouth area, the correct relationships between the vermilion and cutaneous parts of the lips should be maintained or restored by both clinical dental treatments [12,20,22], and artificial reconstructions [16].…”

“…In contrast, optical instruments (laser scans, stereophotogrammetric digitizers) usually need dedicated locations, that often cannot be organized within dental offices. Furthermore, the instrument is low-cost, when compared to optical devices, that remain to be used only within research centers [20,35]. This may help in widespread data collection, allowing the definition of ethnic-specific data bases that take into account individual characteristics [28].…”

“…Sex-and age-related variations in the orolabial region are particularly important also considering the functional, social and esthetic role played by the facial soft tissues [10,[12][13][14]16,[20][21][22].…”

“…For instance, reference data are necessary to surgeons and orthodontists treating dentofacial deformities: diagnosis and treatment should obtain harmonious facial characteristics concurring to a sound functionality [13,16,17,20,[23][24][25][26][27].…”

Creating Natural‐Looking Removable Prostheses: Combining Art and Science to Imitate Nature

“…The clinical appointments of centric relation and occlusal registration are very important for the orientation and dimensional accuracy of the prosthetic space, but at the same time principles and techniques that promote individual characterization and enhance the harmonious blending with intraoral and extraoral structures should be employed 4,5 . Removable prostheses consist of the denture base and the artificial teeth, two distinct components serving specific functions and being subject to different functional limitations and esthetic considerations 6 .…”