References

Appelbaum M. Plans of occlusion. Dent Clin N Am. 1984; 28:273-276
Jacobsen TE, Krol AJ. A contemporary review of the factors involved in complete denture retention, stability and support. J Prosthet Dent. 1983; 49:5-15
Frush JP, Fisher RD. Complete dentures: the dynesthetic interpretation of the dentogenic concept. J Prosthet Dent. 1958; 8:558-581
Smith PW, McCord JF. What do patients expect from their complete dentures?. J Dent. 2004; 32:158-170
Critchlow SB, Ellis JS, Field JC. Reducing the risk of failure in complete denture patients. Dent Update. 2012; 39:427-436
Cooper GE, Tredwin NT, Cooper NT, Petrie A, Gill DS. The influence of maxillary central incisor height-to-width ratio on perceived smile aesthetics. Br Dent J. 2012; 212:589-599
McCord JF, Smith PW, Grey NJA.London: Elsevier Books; 2004
Carlsson GE, Örtorp A, Omar R. What is the evidence base for the efficacies of different complete denture impression procedures? A critical review. J Dent. 2013; 41:17-23

Complete dentures revisited

From Volume 41, Issue 3, April 2014 | Pages 250-259

Authors

J Fraser McCord

BDS, DDS, FDS DRD, RCS(Ed) FDS(Eng), FDS RCPS(Glas), FCD(HK) CBiol, FSB

Articles by J Fraser McCord

Philip Smith

BDS, PhD, FDS DRD, MRD RCS(Ed), FDS(Rest Dent) RCS(Ed)

Senior Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry, Liverpool Dental School

Articles by Philip Smith

Sachin Jauhar

BDS, MSc, MFDS FDS(Rest Dent)

Specialist Registrar and Honorary Clinical Teacher in Restorative Dentistry, Glasgow Dental Hospital and School, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland

Articles by Sachin Jauhar

Abstract

The aim of the article is to assist practitioners in the diagnosis and management of complete denture problems by addressing the problems from a theoretical viewpoint and in a clinically diagnostic way.

Clinical Relevance: To assist practitioners and undergraduates to understand the clinical basis of complete denture prosthodontics.

Article

In 1984, Applebaum wrote:1

“…a man with no eyes cannot see, a man with no legs cannot run but a man with no teeth expects to eat and chew with dentures as well as he did when he had natural teeth.”

While the second statement has since been disproved, via prostheses, this aphorism is still apt when complete dentures are considered. It underlines the importance of appreciating the contribution the patient can make to the success of dentures, in addition to the overall value of the dental team operating optimally. This is demonstrated in Figure 1, which summarizes the four essential factors involved in creating a good outcome for complete denture treatment.

The foremost is of course the patient and, unless the patient is accepting of her/his edentulous state and, further, is capable of some denture control, then a favourable outcome is doubtful. Experienced clinicians will recall delivering prosthodontically acceptable dentures which patients cannot tolerate; they will also doubtless recall examining patients who have coped, or are coping quite well with dentures which fly in the face of conventional (prosthodontic) wisdom. The importance, therefore, of determining the expectations and denture-wearing history cannot be under-emphasized.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Dental Update and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Up to 2 free articles per month
  • New content available