RELATIONSHIP OF THE VERTICAL DIMENSION OF OCCLUSION WITH ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF FINGER IN INDIVIDUALS OF KERALA POPULATION - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Aim: The aim of this study was to find out the correlation of vertical dimension of occlusion with anthropometric measurements of finger in individuals of kerala population, which can be used as future reference of the vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) and hence can be used to determine VDO in edentulous patients. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics, Govt. Dental College, Kottayam, kerala, India. A total of 240 dentate subjects of age range 20 to 40 years were included for this study.Anthropometric measurements of VDO, length of index finger, length of little finger and distance from tip of thumb to tip of index finger of right hand was recorded clinically using modified digital vernier caliper with an accuracy of 0.01 mm. For all the parameters of this study mean, standard deviation and range was calculated. Correlation was studied using Pearson Correlation Coefficient method (whendistribution was normal).Spearman correlation was used when distribution was not normal. Results: In males, correlation ofVDO was strongest for the parameter - length of index finger (r-0.659). In females correlation of VDO was strongest for the parameter - length of little finger (r-0.723). Conclusion: Within the limitations of the present study, the result shows that the index finger and little finger can be used as an adjunct for determining the VDO in edentulous male and female patients respectively.