Complete denture Exam

The successful Denture starts with a Complete Denture Examination. It is important to determine if a person actually
needs a denture and whether an overdenture is indicated. Because of advances in Dentistry it is often possible to return
the mouth to health without the construction of a denture. It is always the best choice to KEEP your teeth or at least some
of them.  A successful denture can be made but is always a compromise.

As with a patient that has teeth, It is important that a proper exam be performed before a denture is constructed on
someone who has worn a denture for many years . It is important to check for changes in the mouth and to determine if
the dental arches can be enhanced by ridge enhancement surgery, before the new denture is constructed. If any pathology
is present, it is important not to construct a new denture over active disease.

A complete clinical examination of the mouth is used to determine the condition of the soft tissues and the size and shape
of the dental arches. The relationship of the upper and lower jaws can also be determined.

1.  Nasal Cavity  

2.  Maxillary Sinus  
3.  Zygomatic Arch  
4.  Head of the Condyle  
5.  Cornoid Process   
6.  Soft Palate  
7.  Maxillary Tuberosity  
8.  Hard Palate  
9.  Tongue Shadow  
10.Mandible  
  11.Mental Foramen  
Edentulous Panoramic X-Ray 12.Submandibular Fossa  
13.Inferior Alveolar Canal
A panoramic x-ray will show all the bony areas, and along with a clinical exam can uncover any hidden problems and
allow for a proper diagnosis. Some of the things we look for in a denture exam are:  
 

o Retained tooth roots

o Hard and soft tissue lesions
o Hyperplastic (loose tissue)
o Size of the ridges
o Jaw relationship
o Oral Cancer

If only a few roots can be saved, an Overdenture, which is a denture which attaches to a couple of roots anchored in
the jaw can be constructed.

For patients wanting to maintain some teeth while a denture is constructed an Immediate Denture can be constructed.
Implants may be placed in the jaw to anchor a denture when a patient is unable to wear a denture successfully.  
  
  
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[Denture Surgery] [Myths] [Reline] [Questions] [Immediate Denture] [Implants]

0034 Relationship of Complete Denture Maxillary

Incisors to the Incisive PapillaZ.M. ISA, and L.M. ABDULHADI,
University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Objective: This study investigated the relationship of the maxillary central

incisors to the incisive papilla in patients wearing complete dentures. Methods:
Occlusal views of 120 maxillary casts of fully dentate subjects were recorded
with digital photography. Using image analyser software (Leica Qwin Lite Vers. 2,
Leica Microsystems Imaging Solutions, Cambridge, U.K.) the computer images
were used to determine the distance of the labial surfaces of the maxillary
central incisors to i). the midpoint of the incisive papilla (MIP) and ii). a line
joining the tips of the maxillary canines (IC). Maxillary complete dentures of 31
patients who requested replacement dentures were examined. The position of
the labial surface of the maxillary central incisor teeth on the dentures in relation
to the midpoint of the incisive papilla (CIP) was determined using the Alma
denture gauge (Asden Limited, Cheshire, U.K.). Results: The mean incisor to the
MIP distance was 9.59 ± 1.01 mm while the mean incisor to IC distance was
9.18 ± 1.09 mm. Only in 33% of the subjects did the IC pass through the MIP.
In 55% of the subjects, IC was 1.30 ± 0.78 mm. anterior to the MIP, while in the
remaining subjects, IC was 1.01 ± 0.59 mm posterior to MIP. The mean CIP
distance in the complete denture subjects was 6.34 ± 1.87 mm. In 55% of the
complete denture patients, the maxillary central incisors were set at
approximately 6 mm or less to the MIP. Conclusion: In the sample studied, the
anterior teeth in complete dentures may not replicate the position of the natural
anterior teeth as they were generally set at least 3 mm closer to the incisive
papilla.

Seq #5 - Oral Communication III : Prosthodontics/Implantology

1:30 PM-3:00 PM, Thursday, October 9, 2008

Back to the Scientific Groups Program 

Back to the 22nd International Association for Dental Research (SEA Division) &
19th South East Asia Association for Dental Education (October 8-10, 2008)

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