Freeway space determination using lateral profile photographs: A pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Many methods are reported in literature to determine freeway space (FWS), but they yield dissimilar measurements.


OBJECTIVE
Recording FWS of patients during prosthetic rehabilitation is one of the important steps in dentistry. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability to predict FWS using lateral profile photographs (LPPs) in edentulous participants.


METHODS
Fifty-three participants in the age range of 20-27 years who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. LPP were taken for all participants using standard protocol and duplicate copy obtained; on which three soft tissue reference points, porion (Stp), gnathion (Stgn), and gonion (Stg) (Stg prenoted on the face) were marked and joined to form an angle Stp-Stg-Stgn. This angle was correlated with the mean FWS obtained using 3 methods, swallowing, phonetics, and no command. Simple linear regression model was used to develop a prediction formula for FWS using Stp-Stg-Stgn angle as the independent variable.


RESULTS
The angle Stp-Stg-Stgn had a significant negative correlation with FWS (r = -0.76, P < 0.001). Using simple linear regression analysis, the following formula was obtained: FWS (in millimeters) = 11.405 - 0.072 × (Stp-Stg-Stgn angle in degrees).


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of this study, considering the usage of LPP as a method to determine the FWS can be recommended.
Department of Prosthodontic Dentistry, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Dileep Nag
DN
Vinnakota
Department of Prosthodontic Dentistry, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Krishna Chaitanya
KC
Kanneganti
Department of Prosthodontic Dentistry, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Mahesh
M
Pulagam
Department of Orthodontics, Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Praveen Kumar Reddy
PK
Karnati
Anatomical landmarks; soft tissue; vertical dimension at rest