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Review Article in Prosthodontics
Review Article in Prosthodontics
Review Article in Prosthodontics
The purpose of this article is to reflect current changes in philosophy towards the
prescription of complete dentures. To achieve these aims, this article will deal with
Clinical assessment:
1. Patients assessment: the first of these is practiced by many practioners who take
the opportunity to escort their patients from the waiting area to the surgery. In
addition to the value of the exercise gained, this philosophy affords the clinician
the opportunity to assess the mein, gait and physical appearance of each patient.
2. soft tissue attachment: the tone of the lips and cheeks may be assessed by
asking the fundamental questions which tends to promote unguarded replies and
provide an opportunity for useful observations. This form of questioning will also
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tend to indicate the functional relationship of the lips and toungue to the dentures
in speech.
The oral mucosa should be checked routinely for the presence of ulcers,
stomatitis or frank pathology. The clinician should also note the presence of
abnormalities.
Hard tissue assessment: the edentulous ridges should be assessed for form,
presence of retained roots, tori and degree of inter-ridge space. The classification
of ridge form by Atwood, which has been modified by Cawood and Howell is a
In addition to above, the clinician should assess the quality and quantity of
patients saliva. This may affect the decision regarding the selection of the
Denture assessment:
General factors:
frequency with which previous dentures have been replaced and the
materials used and the condition of the dentures, including the signs and
sites of wear and usage. It is also useful idea to record the dietary habits
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the patient.
Specific factors:
tissues.
function.
Assessment of retention:
secondary factor.
Assesment of stability:
avoided.
of lower denture to assist stability. The operator should detect any slide,
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denture.
b. restoration of philtrum
d. buccal corridors
2. posterior asthetics
a. occlusal planes
c. gingival contours
other aspects of denture assessment: remove both the dentures and assess
the following:
may help relate these teeth to the incisive papilla. In case of lower
posterior teeth, a wax knife may be used to relate the lower posteriors
to the ridge.
When the assessment of the patient and patients dentures have been made, a realistic