Removable partial dentures: clinical concepts.

This article provides a review of the traditional clinical concepts for the design and fabrication of removable partial dentures (RPDs). Although classic theories and rules for RPD designs have been presented and should be followed, excellent clinical care for partially edentulous patients may also be achieved with computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing technology and unique blended designs. These nontraditional RPD designs and fabrication methods provide for improved fit, function, and esthetics by using computer-aided design software, composite resin for contours and morphology of abutment teeth, metal support structures for long edentulous spans and collapsed occlusal vertical dimensions, and flexible, nylon thermoplastic material for metal-supported clasp assemblies.

Phonetics and tongue position to improve mandibular denture retention: a clinical report.

The fabrication, use, and wear instructions for complete dentures are often the factors determining success. The dentist must help guide the mental attitude of the skeptical patient to foster acceptance and success of complete dentures. A "feeling of looseness" may be a condition experienced while patients learn to wear a new mandibular complete denture.

Lingualized occlusion: an occlusal solution for edentulous patients.

Occlusion is a critical component in any aspect of prosthodontic care including that related to the treatment of dentate, partially dentate, or edentulous patients. When complete dentures are fabricated for an edentulous patient, occlusion has a considerable influence on the outcome of treatment. Due to the relative simplicity involved in development of a lingualized occlusal scheme by dental laboratory technicians, this approach has gained favor among practitioners who are able to evaluate and/or correct tooth arrangements for complete dentures.

The use of sectional impressions and a transfer index for extensive fixed prosthodontic treatment.

The philosophy of positioning the margins of crowns supragingivally may not be applicable with the presence of caries, erosion, abfraction (noncarious cervical lesion), short clinical crown length, or esthetic concerns. In such situations, it is essential not only to record precise subgingival details of all of the prepared teeth but also to accurately transfer them to a working master cast. If a patient presents with oral and/or gingival conditions that compromise the clinician's ability to obtain a single full-arch impression for extensive fixed restorations, a technique using sectional impressions, an intraoral transfer index, and a transfer impression for transfer dies will play a vital role in the patient's treatment.

Fixed restoration of sectioned mandibular molar teeth.

A mandibular molar tooth may have its furcation area or one of its roots severely affected by periodontal disease or caries. Multiple factors must be favorable to restore health to such a compromised tooth. Adequate bone support for stabilization of the individual roots and coronal segments must be available after periodontal therapy.

The use of a rotational-path design for a mandibular removable partial denture.

The lack of display of anterior metal clasps is a primary advantage of the A-P rotational-path mandibular RPD design. A disadvantage of this design is that it relies on rigidmetal guiding plates for anterior retention and stability. Loss of retention may require procedures much more involved than the simple adjustment of conventional RPD clasps.

Repair of bis-acryl provisional restorations using flowable composite resin.

Provisional restorations provide interim coverage for prepared teeth while fixed definitive restorations are fabricated. Several types of autopolymerizing acrylic resins have been used for many years to fabricate provisional restorations. In recent years, bis-acryl resin composite material has gained popularity among clinicians for the direct fabrication of provisional fixed restorations.

The use of composite resin in removable prosthodontics.

Economic, esthetic, and concerns of tooth preservation are important when considering bonded composite resin for the partially edentulous patient's prosthetic rehabilitation. This article has described the clinical success of the use of bonded composite resin in removable prosthodontics. Composite resin may be used in daily clinical practice for the restoration of abutment teeth in contour, vertical support, and re-establishment of a patient's vertical dimension.

The use of diagnostic wax-ups in treatment planning.

The use of diagnostic wax-ups as diagnostic aids in treatment planning has been presented for use in various situations--from simple patient assessment to more extensive prosthodontic rehabilitation. Requesting a diagnostic wax-up from the dental technician may add to the expense of treatment planning for a patient because of the laboratory fee incurred for this service. The cost is negligible, considering the value of identifying potential treatment obstacles that could affect both treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction.