Which instrument is used to measure the vertical dimension of occlusion?

• A. Beebee crown shears
• B. Wax knife
• C. Willis bite gauge
• D. Millers forceps

Answer: (C)

Measuring how high the jaw closes when the teeth come together is about establishing the vertical dimension of occlusion. The Willis bite gauge is designed for this purpose. It provides a fixed, calibrated set of bite blocks; when the patient bites down, the amount of closure corresponds to a specific reading on the gauge, giving an objective measurement in millimeters. This lets you set or verify the vertical dimension accurately during denture fabrication, helping ensure proper function, speech, and aesthetics. The other tools listed are used for trimming crowns, carving wax, or extracting teeth, and don’t provide a direct measurement of occlusal height.