Background:

The evaluation of the Occlusal Vertical Dimension is an important phase in the diagnosis and treatment planning that determines the aesthetic and functional relationships between the jaws.

Objective:

To know the methods that help to determine it, the advantages and disadvantages of each one, and the parameters to reestablish it.

Materials and Methods:

Scientific information was collected from the electronic databases Medline / Pubmed, EBSCO and Schoolar Google from January 2010 to March 2016 in both English and Spanish, using the words Occlusal Vertical Density, Lower Facial Height and Physiological Inoculation Space, Titles and abstracts were read to discard unrelated articles, eliminating repeated ones.

Results and Discussion:

The proportional relationship between the segments of the face varies according tothe studies; out of these, the anthropometric measurements present the greatest number of discrepancies, and their results can not be applied to all individuals.

Conclusions:

There is no single method that accurately determines the occlusal vertical dimension, nor scientific evidence supporting the association of temporomandibular disorders with variations in it; increments of 5mm are predictable and although they may cause initial discomforts to patients, they are self-limiting and diminish in a few days.

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