Analysis of the measurement of the vertical dimension with the Ricketts cephalometric technique in totally edentulous patients rehabilitated with the Willis method

Aim: To obtain the vertical dimension with the Ricketts cephalometric
technique in totally edentulous patients rehabilitated with the Willis method.
Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional experimental study, thirty
totally edentulous patients, with an age range of 50-76 years, rehabilitated
with the Willis method at the Dr. René Puig Bentz dental clinic of the Pedro
Henríquez Ureña National University, were evaluated to obtain the lower
facial height with the analysis Ricketts cephalometric study, using lateral skull
radiographs, which were divided into two groups; 30 lateral skull radiographs
with prosthesis and 30 without prosthesis.
Results: 53.3% of both genders of patients with prostheses obtained a normal
vertical dimension, with an average of 46.6º within the norm of the Ricketts
cephalometric technique 47 +/- 4º. 33.3% obtained a decreased vertical
dimension, with an average of 38.3º and 13.3% obtained an increased vertical
dimension with an average of 54.4º. Regarding the population without
prostheses, 93.3% in both genders obtained a decreased vertical dimension
with an average of 28.9º and the remaining 6.6% obtained a normal vertical
dimension with an average of 46.5º. 63.3% of the population studied had

periodontal disease as the cause of dental loss, followed by caries with 30%
and trauma with 6.6%.
Conclusions: the gender most affected in alterations of the vertical dimension
was the male and the etiological factor that most influenced the decrease in the
vertical dimension was periodontal disease. Interested conflicted: not
declared.