During a prosthodontic procedure it often becomes necessary to open up the bite (restore the vertical dimension of occlusion). This:
- Improves facial appearance
- Restores proper dimensions for oral tissue that have been lost due to loss of tooth structure
- It's also extremely important for providing space for the restorative materials
It's extremely important to open up the bite properly. if it's not done properly it could create TMJ issues or issues with phonetics and function. Methods to determine how much opening of the bite is required include:
- Using freeway space as a guide
- Employing phonetics to determine Silverman's closest speaking space
- Accounting for minimum space that is needed for restorative materials
Once vertical dimension is determined, it should be tested using reversible means. This can be done using removable overlays such as snap on smiles, overlay RPD’s and occlusal guards. The patient is instructed to wear these all the time except while brushing. Once the patient is comfortable for a couple of weeks, the reconstruction is be tested out in provisionals to ensure that there are no surprises before the final restoration gets delivered.
