Effectiveness of the increase of the occlusal vertical dimension in the smile of young Peruvian adults: A quasi-experimental study

Aim: To evaluate the increase of the occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) on the smile in young Peruvian adults. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study included a total of 30 subjects (15 men and 15 women) aged between 20 and 30 years. Silicone stops were created that increased the OVD by 2 and 4 mm. Photographs were taken with a reflex camera of position, at programmed and standardized lighting, with and without the stops made to the patients using a head and face positioner. The following measurements were made: smile index, interlabial distance, intercomisural width, distance of the incisal edge-upper lip, and distance of the incisal edge-lower lip. The analysis of variance test was used for statistical analysis, establishing a level of significance at P 0.05. Results: The measure of the interlabial distance of the initial smile was 10.70 ± 2.80 mm, in which the OVD became 11.79 ± 3.67 mm with the increase of 2 mm and 12.91 ± 3.98 mm with the increase of 4 mm; however, the increase in OVD favored a decrease on the smile index, decreasing from 6.07 ± 1.51 mm to 5.48 ± 1.24 mm and 4.99 ± 1.47 mm in the group of increases in the OVD of 2 and 4 mm, respectively. Conclusion: The increase of the OVD favors an increase in the interlabial distance and the measure from the incisal edge to the lower lip; however, it produces a decrease in the smile index in the young Peruvian patients evaluated.