A method and apparatus for determining the proper vertical or interocclusal distance for upper and lower dentures of edentulous denture patients to obtain most efficient chewing ability and establishing proper freeway space for unimpaired speech which includes use of magnetic gauge plates on one of the upper or lower denture base plates disposed to be spaced from the biting edges or incisals of central anterior or incisor teeth mounted on the other base plate to establish the proper relationship during normal movement of the wearer's mandible with respect to the maxilla during normal speech functions. The apparatus includes magnetic gauge plates adapted to be supported on a supporting platform affixed to one of the denture base plates, and which are formed with predetermined thickness to enable the dentist to build up the proper height of the exposed surface of the gauge plates to a dimension representing the edges or incisals of the central anterior or incisor teeth for such denture to establish the proper freeway space between the incisal edges of the anterior or incisor teeth on the dentures. The gauge plates are adjustable to accommodate horizontal prognatic or retrusive overjet where required. The magnetic character of the gauge plates positively holds the same in position on platform fixed to the denture base plate when the proper vertical dimension has been determined and established. The spacing is preferably established by use of a phonetic chart or reading card having a series of words or a sentence for reading by the patient to produce the desired freeway space relationship between the incisals and the exposed surface of the gauge plates on the opposite denture base plate when the patient reads the chart before the dentist. The words on the chart are chosen to produce sibilants and similar phonetic combinations resulting in the close proximity of the incisals to the exposed surface of the gauge plates, with the lips of the patient open during the pronunciation of such words for observation by the dentist and determination of the proper freeway space for both chewing and unimpaired speech.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING PROPER INTEROCCLUSAL DISTANCE FOR EDENTULOUS DENTURE PATIENTS