Occlusal Vertical Dimension Estimated from 3-Dimensional Facial Scans Using a Craniometric Equation: A Retrospective Clinical Study
Abstract
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Establishing an appropriate occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) is a critical and challenging step in complete mouth rehabilitation, particularly in patients with severe tooth wear or edentulism. Although craniometric equations have been proposed to estimate OVD from facial measurements, their applicability to 3-dimensional (3D) facial scans within digital workflows remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective clinical study was to determine whether OVD estimated from 3D facial scans using a craniometric equation is clinically equivalent to OVD measured directly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Facial anthropometric measurements and OVD were obtained both clinically and from 3D facial scans acquired with 3 different devices (Artec Spider scanner; Artec 3D, Einstar; Shining 3D, Qlone on iPhone 13 Pro; Apple Inc) in 23 dentate participants. Based on these facial measurements, OVD was also estimated for each modality (clinical and scanned) using a craniometric equation. Equivalence was assessed with the two 1-sided t test (TOST) procedure using a predefined clinical equivalence margin of ±2\,mm. RESULTS: Equivalence was not observed between equation-based OVD derived from scan measurements and clinically measured OVD for any device. Scan-derived equation-based OVD values systematically differed from clinical measurements by -3.1 to -3.6 mm, exceeding the predefined equivalence margin. CONCLUSIONS: Estimation of OVD from 3D facial scans using a craniometric equation cannot be considered clinically precise and should not replace conventional clinical methods for determining OVD.
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BibTeX
@article{viel2026occlusal,
title = {{Occlusal Vertical Dimension Estimated from 3-Dimensional Facial Scans Using a Craniometric Equation: A Retrospective Clinical Study}},
author = {Louise Viel and Virginie Chuy and Justine Bouscasse and Adrien Laran and Adrien Naveau},
journal = {The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.prosdent.2026.06.023},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05736261v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Occlusal Vertical Dimension Estimated from 3-Dimensional Facial Scans Using a Craniometric Equation: A Retrospective Clinical Study
AU - Louise Viel
AU - Virginie Chuy
AU - Justine Bouscasse
AU - Adrien Laran
AU - Adrien Naveau
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/03
JO - The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
DO - 10.1016/j.prosdent.2026.06.023
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05736261v1
AB - STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Establishing an appropriate occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) is a critical and challenging step in complete mouth rehabilitation, particularly in patients with severe tooth wear or edentulism. Although craniometric equations have been proposed to estimate OVD from facial measurements, their applicability to 3-dimensional (3D) facial scans within digital workflows remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective clinical study was to determine whether OVD estimated from 3D facial scans using a craniometric equation is clinically equivalent to OVD measured directly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Facial anthropometric measurements and OVD were obtained both clinically and from 3D facial scans acquired with 3 different devices (Artec Spider scanner; Artec 3D, Einstar; Shining 3D, Qlone on iPhone 13 Pro; Apple Inc) in 23 dentate participants. Based on these facial measurements, OVD was also estimated for each modality (clinical and scanned) using a craniometric equation. Equivalence was assessed with the two 1-sided t test (TOST) procedure using a predefined clinical equivalence margin of ±2\,mm. RESULTS: Equivalence was not observed between equation-based OVD derived from scan measurements and clinically measured OVD for any device. Scan-derived equation-based OVD values systematically differed from clinical measurements by -3.1 to -3.6 mm, exceeding the predefined equivalence margin. CONCLUSIONS: Estimation of OVD from 3D facial scans using a craniometric equation cannot be considered clinically precise and should not replace conventional clinical methods for determining OVD.
SN - 1097-6841
ER -