Quantifying the facial proportions in edentulous individuals before and after rehabilitation with complete dentures compared with dentate individuals: A 3D stereophotogrammetry study

Statement of problem: Facial collapse is associated with edentulism, and while the provision of complete dentures promotes masticatory function and esthetics, whether complete dentures restore facial proportions to the natural appearance found in dental individuals is unclear.

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical study was to assess the facial profiles of edentulous individuals before and after treatment with complete dentures and compare these profiles with those of dentate individuals matched by age as the control.

Material and methods: Sixty White participants were recruited as 2 groups: 30 edentulous participants provided with complete dentures in both arches and 30 participants with natural teeth and normal occlusion. Facial analysis was performed through 3D stereophotogrammetry. Linear, angular, surface, and perimeter facial measurements were made and statistically analyzed with paired and independent t tests (α=.05).

Results: The mean age ±standard deviation was 63.16 ±7.33 years for the edentulous participants and 60.43 ±5.34 years for the dentate controls, without statistical differences between ages (P=.105). The facial profiles of the edentulous group with and without complete dentures were statistically different (P<.05) in 6 linear and 5 angular measurements. After quantifying the facial collapse by comparing edentulous individuals without complete dentures and the control dentate group, the results showed that the majority of differences occurred in the middle and lower third of the face, evidencing shortening in these areas with differences in facial measures of around 2 to 5 mm less in the edentulous group. However, statistically significant differences between the participants with complete dentures and the control dentate group were found in only 2 linear measurements (the distance between the right and the left exocanthion to cheilion), in the sealed lip angle and the left gonial angle, and in the surface and perimeter (P<.05).

Conclusions: Tooth loss affected the facial proportions in the lower third of the face. The provision of complete dentures restored their facial appearance but not precisely to the facial proportions of individuals with a natural dentition, as considerable differences were detected in surface and perimeter measurements.