OBJECTIVETo study the natural head posture (NHP) of edentulous patients compared with dentate people and to understand NHP shift immediately inserting complete dentures and three months after denture wearing.

METHODSThe NHPs of twenty edentulous patients and twenty-two dentate subjects were recorded with cephalometric technique. The NTPs of edentulous patients were exposed three times, before inserting, right after inserting and three months after inserting dentures. The NHPs of dentate subjects were recorded once as a controlled group. Six angles measured from the radiographs were evaluated for the NHP and three angles and two linear measures for the mandibular position.

RESULTSCompared with dentate subjects, the craniomandibular angles of the edentulous patients increased and the camber of the cervical columns decreased, but changes of the NHP were not significant. The mandible showed a significant upward moving (P < 0.05) and an insignificant forward moving. At the time of denture insertion, the camber of the cervical columns significantly increased (P < 0.05). Three months after using the dentures, the craniomandibular angles of the patients obviously decreased. (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe shift of NHP after denture inserting does exist. The shifted NHP of the patients with dentures is a new balanced posture and closer to the normal position than the NHP of them without dentures.