Statistical Investigation of the Standard Height of Occlusal Rim Blocks among Patients Attending Makerere University Dental Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Edentulous patients desire to reinstate oral function and aesthetics in the most comfortable state and to regain their self-esteem. Due to racial anatomic differences, there is a need to ascertain the standard height of Occlusal Rim Blocks (ORBs) for edentulous patients in Uganda. This study was aimed at statistical investigation of the standard height of ORBs among patients attending Makerere University Dental Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. This was a cross-sectional quantitative study that comprised 240 pairs of wax ORBs requested by clinicians for patients in need of complete dentures. Consecutive sampling was used to select the ORBs. The height of the anterior and posterior portions of the maxillary and mandibular ORBs were recorded using a pair of pliers and a flexible ruler, and data were entered into Excel and exported into STATA software version 15 for analysis. The mean height for the anterior portion of maxillary ORBs was 19.4 mm and for the posterior, 17.4 mm after adjustment while the mean height for the mandibular counterparts was 16.4 mm and 16.0 mm, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean height of ORB before and after adjustments and between the newly established and internationally accepted standard height of ORB. There was no significant sex difference in the mean height of ORBs. Overall, the mean height of ORBs for the Ugandan population was significantly shorter than the internationally accepted standard height. Keywords: Bite registration, Complete denture, Dental hospital, Edentulous patients, Height, Occlusal rim blocks