TJPRC: International Journal of Prosthetic

Dentistry & Research (TJPRC:IJPDR)

Vol. 1, Issue 1, Jun 2017, 5-10
© TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

TOOTH SUPPORTED MANDIBULAR OVERDENTURE: A FORGOTTEN CONCEPT

ANSUIA GUPTA1, DAMANPREET KAUR2, GURPARTAP SINGH3 & AAKASH DUGGAL4

1
Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, Gian Sagar Dental College & Hospital, Punjab, India
2
Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, Gian Sagar Dental College & Hospital, Punjab, India
3
Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, Gian Sagar Dental College & Hospital, Punjab, India
4
Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, Sri Guru Ram Dass
Institute of Dental Sciences & Research, Punjab, India
ABSTRACT

Clinical decision making in the case of a partially edentulous patient with only few teeth remaining is a big
challenge. Despite recent development in dental implantology, the conservative approach to root preservation followed
by an overdenture is still valid. Few teeth remaining can be retained and used as an abutment for overdenture
fabrication. This helps to improve retention and stability of the final prosthesis significantly, alveolar bone is
maintained, helps to achieve better prosthetic support, proprioceptive feedback, better masticatory efficiency, aesthetics
and psychological benefits. This paper presents a case report of rehabilitation of a partially edentulous patient with a
tooth supported mandibular overdenture.

Original Article
KEYWORDS: Overdenture, Preventive Prosthodontics, Proprioceptive, Copings

Received: Dec 02, 2016; Accepted: Jan 02, 2017; Published: Jan 06, 2017; Paper Id.: TJPRC:IJPDRJUN20172

INTRODUCTION

De Van golden statement, “perpetual preservation of what remain is more important than meticulous
replacement of what is missing” still rings true. Overdenture is definitely a better option as compared to removable
complete denture prosthesis.1

Overdenture is a removable partial or complete denture that covers and rests on one or more remaining
natural teeth, roots, and/or dental implants; a dental prosthesis that covers and is partially supported by natural
teeth, tooth roots and/or dental implants, it is also called overlay denture, overlay prosthesis and superimposed
prosthesis.

In a four year study by Renner et al, it was found that 50% of the roots used as overdenture abutments
remained immobile.2

Overdenture offers many advantages over conventional complete denture. The most important benefits
are preservation of alveolar bone, proprioception, enhanced stability and retention and improved masticatory
efficiency. Thus, overdentures are more beneficial as they provide psychological, functional as well as biological
advantage for the patients.3Rissin et al in 1978 compared masticatory in patient with natural dentition, complete
denture and overdenture. They found that overdenture patient had chewing efficiency one third higher than
complete denture patient.

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6 Ansuia Gupta, Damanpreet Kaur, Gurpartap Singh & Aakash Duggal

This paper presents a case report of a partially edentulous patient rehabilitated with mandibular tooth supported
overdenture.

CASE REPORT

A 61 year old patient came to the Department of Prosthodontics in Gian Sagar Dental College & Hospital with
chief complaint of difficulty in chewing food due to missing teeth.

There was no relevant medical history affecting prosthodontic treatment. Extraoral examination showed no gross
abnormality. On intra oral examination, in maxillary arch 11,13,14,15,21,24,25 teeth were present. 11 and 21 were grade
III mobile, rest of the teeth were firm (grade I). In mandibular arch 33, 43, 36 teeth were present 33 and 43 were firm and
RCT treated 36 was grade III mobile and badly carious. Mandibular ridge was severely resorbed.

TREATMENT PLANNING

The different treatment option available for the patient were

 Extraction of all remaining teeth followed by conventional complete denture in both maxillary and mandibular
arch.

 Total extraction followed by implant supported overdenture in both the arches.

 Tooth supported overdenture in mandibular arch opposing partial denture in maxillary arch.

Because of economical reasons, option C was chosen, 11, 21 and 36 were extracted and it was planned to use the
remaining teeth in mandibular arch as abutment to fabricate an overdenture opposing maxillary partial denture.
The location (43, 33) was favourable for an overdenture. Diagnostic impression with alginate (Figure 1) was made and a
tentative jaw relation of diagnostic casts made from alginate impression was done to assess the interarch space.

Figure 1: Diagnostic Impression of Maxillary and Mandibular Arch

It was found to be sufficient for an overdenture with simple tooth modification. The abutment teeth were reduced
in vertical height to 2mm above the crest of the ridge and rounded to minimize the torque. (Figure 2)

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Tooth Supported Mandibular Overdenture: A Forgotten Concept 7

Figure 2: Reduction of the Abutment Teeth

Elective Endodontics was carried out of 43 and 33. Preparation of the post space was done 4mm short of the
apical length. Custom – post patterns were fabricated directly in the root canal with pattern resin and then, pick- up
impression was made using rubber base impression material. The impression was poured in die stone .The copings were
dome shaped and fabrication of these post-copings patterns was completed in the laboratory. Custom ball attachments were
made from pattern resin and were attached to the copings. The diameter of the custom ball attachment was similar with that
of diameter of orthodontic separators. The casting was done in a conventional manner. The finished copings along with the
attachments were tried in the patient’s mouth. After confirming the fit, they were luted onto the abutment teeth.(Figure 3)

Figure 3: Copings with their Attachment

A primary impression of mandibular impression was made. Border moulding was carried out after fabricating
special tray. Final impression was made with rubber base impression material. Occlusal rims were made and jaw relation
recorded. Teeth arrangement was made and try in was done. Maxillary partial and mandibular complete denture were
fabricated using conventional method. Finishing and polishing was done in an usual manner. To create a space for
attachment, vent holes were created in the mandibular denture. Orthodontic separators were placed over the custom ball
attachment. The separators were picked up by adding autopolymerising acrylic resin in the space while maxillary
removable partial prosthesis and mandibular complete denture was in patient’s mouth. (Figure 4)

Figure 4: Orthodontic Separators in the Mandibular Denture

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8 Ansuia Gupta, Damanpreet Kaur, Gurpartap Singh & Aakash Duggal

Excess autopolymerising acrylic resin was removed at the vent region. Repolishing was done at that region.
The instructions were given to the patient regarding the care and maintenance of the prosthesis.

DISCUSSIONS

Fabrication of tooth supported overdenture is a step in direction of preventive Prosthodontics.

The literature reports that in the elderly population it is common to observe poor dentition affected by periodontal
disease and dental caries. In certain situations, the patient is limited to being rehabilitated with complete dentures due to the
fact that no other options are available. However, the use of selected periodontally healthy strategic positions can greatly
improve the final treatment result in terms of overdenture stability and retention.4

An overdenture requires careful assessment of the interocclusal distance. There must be sufficient space for roots,
metal copings and possible attachments together with an adequate thickness of the denture base material and artificial
teeth, all without jeopardizing the fracture resistance of the denture.5

Crum and Rooney graphically demonstrated in 5 year study an average loss of 0.6 mm of vertical bone in the
anterior part of the mandible of overdenture patients through cephalometric radiographs as opposed to 5.2 mm of bone loss
in complete denture patients.6

According to Robert L Defranco tooth supported overdenture accomplishes three important goals. Firstly, it
maintains the abutment as a part of the residual ridge which in turn provides more support than a conventional complete
denture. Secondly, when teeth are retained the alveolar bone integrity is maintained as they support the alveolar bone.
However when teeth are removed, alveolar bone resorption process begins. Thirdly, with the preservation of teeth there is
also preservation of the periodontal membrane and this in turn preserves proprioceptive impulses resulting in better
occlusal awareness, biting forces consequent neuromuscular control.7

Tallgren concluded that anterior mandibular height resorbed 4 times faster than maxillary ridge with conventional
denture. It was concluded in a 5 year study that retention of mandibular canine for overdenture led to the preservation of
alveolar bone.8

Overdentures are useful for patients with congenital defects such as oligodontia, cleft palate, cleidocranial
dystosis and class III occlusion. They can easily be converted to complete denture over a period of time. Various
advantages of overdenture are improved retention and stability of final prosthesis, maintenance of alveolar bone,
proprioceptive feedback, aesthetics and psychological benefits.

In this particular case mandibular canine were used as abutment for overdenture. This is so because it exhibits
better characterstics associated with support due to its large root with greater periodontal area for attachment and also due
to its localisation in the transition area between anterior and posterior teeth.9 Studies showed that anterior teeth exhibit
more sensitivity and discrimination of forces than posterior teeth. By retaining mandibular canine in overdenture, the
resorption of the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth was reduced by eight times.6

Kruger and Michael in 1962 found that canine had more neurons than any other teeth and they are the most
important proprioceptive organ.10

In clinical routine practice overdenture should be considered as treatment modality for the patient with few teeth
remaining because of the above advantages. Thus overdenture is a ray of hope for such patients.

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Tooth Supported Mandibular Overdenture: A Forgotten Concept 9

REFERENCES

1. Samra RK et al. (2015). Tooth supported overdenture: A concept overshadowed but not yet forgotten !: Journal Of Oral
Research And Review,7,163-7

2. Renner RP et al. (1984). Four-year longitudinal study of the periodontal health status of overdenture patients:
The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 51,593-8

3. Verma PR. ( 2014 ).Tooth supported overdenture- A case report: Journal of Dental Herald, 1,138-41

4. Hug S et al .(2006). Clinical evaluation of 3 overdenture concepts with tooth roots and implants- 2 year results: International
Journal of Prosthodontics,19, 236-43

5. Del Rio CE et al. (1978). Handbook of Immediate Dentures. St Louis Mosby

6. Crum RJ & Rooney GE. ( 1978). Alveolar bone loss in overdentures: a 5-year study: The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry,
40,610-3

7. Dixit S & Acharya S. ( 2010). Benefits of Overdenture: Journal Nepal dental Association,11,97 -100

8. Tallgren A. (1972). The continuing reduction of the residual alveolar ridge in complete denture wearer: a mixed longitudinal
study covering 25 years :The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry,27,203-8

9. Jayshree K et al. (2012).Precision attachment: Retained overdenture: Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society, 1,59-62

10. Kruger, L. & Michel F. (1962). Reinterpretation of the representation of pain based on physiological excitation of single
neurons in the trigeminal sensory complex: Exp. Neurology, 5, 157-78

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