MANAGEMENT OF MANDIBULAR TOTAL AND SUBTOTAL EDENTURES

The stability of full dentures is difficult to establish in the mandible especially in elderly patients with highly resorbed ridges. As a result the practitioner is obliged to find ways of optimizing the mandibular full denture. These include:■ Pre-prosthetic surgery followed by tissue conditioning enables the osteo-mucosal bearing surfaces to be arranged.■ Piezography and impressions of stabilizing polished surfaces help improve prosthetic stability by exploiting the peripheral musculature.■ Balanced occlusion conventional or lingualized guarantees prosthetic stability during function.■ The use of prosthetic adhesive may also be useful.■ Exploiting residual roots if they are of good value and in strategic positions enables the creation of a supra-radicular prosthesis with several advantages.■ Implantology a reliable and recommended alternative also ensures improved prosthetic balance.All these alternatives their advantages and limitations are described in detail in this book.