Vertical dimension of occlusion

Overview
The vertical dimension of occlusion, or VDO is a dental term used to indicate the measurement of the superior-inferior relationship between the maxilla and the mandible when the teeth are situated in maximum intercuspation. This measurement, however is not limited to people who possess teeth, however; for edentulous individuals, who do not have any teeth with which to position themselves in maximum intercuspation, their VDO is measured when they are situated in the reproducible position of centric relation, using various methods to nearly determine the vertical relationship that previously existed when they still had teeth.