Determination of Curve of Spee in Healthy Permanent Dentition and Its Application in Complete Denture Wearers

Abstract

Objective: To determine the depth of the curve of Spee in healthy permanent dentition for its application in complete denture wearers. Study Design : Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Lahore Medical and Dental College from 20 April to 20 October 2023. Materials and Methods: A total of two hundred patients aged 18 – 32 years were included in this study. Mandibular casts of patients were obtained. Each of the casts had fully developed dentitions except for the third molars. Independent sample t-test was used to determine mean depth of the curve of Spee between females and males. Data was collected, results were then statistically analyzed using SPSS version 25. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age of subjects was 25.19 ± 3.529 with minimum and maximum age as 18 and 32 years. The depth of the curve of Spee was found to be P=0.380 and t= -1.540, the curve of Spee is not significantly different in both genders. The curve of Spee mean value was 1.990 ± 0.6175 mm. Conclusion: This study has revealed that the depth of the curve of Spee in natural dentition remains constant irrespective of age and gender. Therefore, the curve of Spee values can be used in the rehabilitation of complete denture wearer.

Keywords

• balanced occlusion
• complete edentulism
• curve of spee
• dentition
• occlusal plane.