Posterior Palatal Seal Area Established in Conventional and CAD/CAM
Fabricated Complete Denture Techniques: Clinical Case Study

Mohamed Saber A Ali; Fahad A Al-Harbi

doi:10.21767/2576-392X.100003

Abstract

Posterior Palatal Seal Area Established in Conventional and CAD/CAM Fabricated Complete Denture Techniques: Clinical Case Study

Statement of problem: Deformation of heat-polymerized PMMA denture bases during its fabrication may affect posterior palatal seal (PPS) of maxillary dentures due to unavoidable dimensional changes such as contraction on cooling and polymerization shrinkage. Overcoming of this shrinkage encountered in conventionally processed completed dentures may improve the fit of the denture base of CAD/CAM processed complete dentures. Clinical studies are lacking in comparing and relating the frictional denture retention due to good border seal for both CAD/CAM processed denture bases and conventionally processed denture bases.
Purpose: In this comparative study, retention of maxillary complete denture is evaluated in terms of PPS for both conventional and CAD/CAM processing techniques. This clinical report describes the manufacturing of a removable CAD/CAM complete denture made of high density polymer to enhance the predictability of retention.
Material and methods: Vertical dislodging forces were applied to both types of maxillary complete denture bases at a preselected middle location. A specially designed strain gauge force meter was used to dislodge the two different denture bases. Forces dislodging each denture base were recorded and the mean retentive force of the 2 techniques was compared (Wilcoxon Z test).
Results: Retention of maxillary CAD/CAM denture base was increased as compared to that of conventionally processed one. A significant difference was noted in vertical pulling force for the CAD/CAM denture base as compared to conventional denture base.
Conclusion: Using the CAD/CAM complete denture increased frictional retention and stability and improved its clinical performance due to good base adaptation and border seal. Patient may thereby benefit from this more retentive and more durable denture.