Complete Denture Introduction

Denture:
An artificial substitute for missing natural teeth and adjacent tissues (GPT8).
Complete denture:
A removable dental prosthesis that replaces the entire dentition and associated
structures of the maxilla or mandible (GPT8).
Objectives CD should satisfy the following functional objectives:
1. Compatibility with surrounding oral environment.
2. Restoration of mastication.
3. Harmony with functions of speech, respiration, and deglutition.
4. Aesthetics.
5. Preservation of remaining oral tissues
Surfaces of complete dentures:
Sir Wilfred Fish (1948) described a denture as having three surfaces, with each
surface playing an independent and important role in the overall fit, stability, and
comfort of the denture
1) Impression / Intaglio surface
2) Occlusal surface
3) Polished/External/Cameo surface

Impression surface (intaglio surface):

Definition: The portion of the denture surface that has its contour determined by
the impression (GPT8).
• Part of the denture in contact with the tissues on which the denture rests.
• The fit of the denture depends on the accuracy of this surface.
• Contributes to retention, stability, and support of the denture.
Occlusal surface:
Definition: The surface that is intended to contact an opposing occlusal surface.
• Aids in mastication and directs forces of mastication to the supporting tissues.
• Contributes to the stability of denture.
Polished or external surface (cameo surface):
Definition: That portion of the surface of a denture that extends in an occlusal
direction from the border of the denture and includes the palatal surfaces. It is that
part of the denture base that is usually polished, and it includes the buccal and
lingual surfaces of the teeth (GPT4).
• It is the external surface of the denture without the teeth.
• Should correspond to the contours of the lips, cheek, and tongue.
• Contributes to retention and stability of denture.

Component parts of complete dentures:

1) Denture base
2) Denture flange
3) Denture borders
4) Denture teeth

Denture base:
Definition: The part of a denture that rests on the foundation tissues and to which
teeth are attached (GPT8).
• Forms the foundation of the denture.
• Forces applied to the denture are distributed and transmitted to the basal seat
through the denture base.
• Adequate extension of the denture base helps in providing retention and support.
• Denture bases are made of acrylic resin or metal
Denture flange:
Definition: The part of the denture base that extends from the cervical ends of the
teeth to the denture border (GPT8).
• Provides peripheral seal and horizontal stability.
• Classified according to the vestibule where it extends as—labial, buccal and
lingual.
Denture border:
Definition: The margin of the denture base at the junction of the polished surface
and the impression surface (GPT8).
• Responsible for maintaining the peripheral seal.
• Should be smooth and polished.
• Overextended denture borders may cause ulcers and hyperplasia.
• Underextended borders result in loss of peripheral seal and compromise retention.
Denture teeth:
• Functions of denture teeth are to improve aesthetics, phonetics, and mastication.
They are classified as follows:
• Based on the type of material used:
○ Acrylic
○ Porcelain
• Based on the morphology of teeth:
○ Anatomic (33 degree or more)
○ Modified anatomic (between 30 and 0 degrees)