DETERMINATION OF VERTICAL DIMENSION AT OCCLLUSION USING FINGER LENGTH AND PALM WIDTH AMONG NIGERIAN STUDENTS OF MADONNA UNIVERSITY ELELE

The vertical dimension at occlusion is a critical aspect of dental anatomy and plays a crucial role in dental occlusion, masticatory function, and overall oral health. The study aims to evaluate the anthropometry of vertical dimension at occlusion and palm and finger length of students in Madonna University. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive study design to generate data on the palm and finger parameters and vertical dimension occlusion, where 300 subjects (150 males and 150 females) were recruited using the simple random sampling techniques. The minimum sample size was calculated using the Taro Yamane formula. The data were collected via direct anthropometric measurement and analyzed using SPSS version 25. This study revealed significant sexual differences across most measured parameters, with males generally showing higher mean values than females, except for palm width, where no significant difference was observed. Additionally, VDO showed significant correlations in males with ,LMF (r = .238, p = .003), LRF (r = .179, p = .028), RMF (r = .211, p = .009), and RP (r = .232, p = .004). These associations suggest that increases in these specific parameters are moderately linked to increases in VDO among males. Other parameters such as LIF, LLF, LP, RIF, and RLF show weak correlations with VDO and are not statistically significant, indicating limited or no consistent relationship in these cases. While in females, VDO showed significant correlations with LIF (r = .382, p < .001), LMF (r = .316, p < .001), LRF (r = .357, p < .001), LLF (r = .174, p = .033), RIF (r = .242, p = .003), RMF (r = .285, p < .001), RRF (r = .272, p = .001), and RLF (r = .241, p = .003). These findings suggest that as the values of these facial dimensions increase, there is a corresponding increase in VDO. However, the correlation between VDO and RP (r = .160, p = .051) was not statistically significant, indicating a weak and non-conclusive relationship in this case.These findings suggest that increases in specific facial dimensions correspond with increases in VDO. Of a particular interest in this study, though not part of the objectives, is the fact that strong and significant correlations are found among the four digits of each hand in males and females. Thus, these findings could be a guide in the construction of human body parts for the purpose of forensic anthropology In addition, this study highlights significant sexual differences in especially facial dimensions especially VDO as well as digits lengths and demonstrates that VDO is more strongly influenced by these parameters in females than in males. This study could serve as valuable tool in dental procedures and forensic investigation especially in predicting VDO from the digits.