Dentures

Basic Complete Prosthodontic / Complete Dentures Terminology

Denture Space is that portion of the oral cavity which is may or may be occupied by maxillary and / or mandibular dentures. It is the space between residual ridges which is available for dentures. It is that space in edentulous mouth which was formerly occupied by teeth and the supporting tissues which have since been lost.

Four Essentials for the Efficient Functioning of Complete Dentures

Adequate support
Adequate retention
Adequate muscle balance
Adequate Occlusal balance

Support is the foundation on which the denture rests. It consists of the tissues which bear the load of mastication on the dentures.

Retention is the resistance of the denture to removal from the mouth.

Muscle Balance implies that the muscular forces of tongue, lips and cheeks act on the denture in such a way that the denture is not dislodge during functional movements of the mouth, with the teeth out of contact.

Occlusal Balance implies that the forces exerted by one denture on the other act in such a way that the dentures are not dislodge during functional movements of the jaws with the teeth in contact.

Stability is the quality of denture to be firm, steady, constant, and not subject to change of position when forces are applied. It is the quality of denture to resist displacement by functional stresses.

Reference
Watt D, MacGregor A R: Designing Complete Dentures, W B Saunders, Toronto 1976