RESUMEN
In order to improve the retention and stability of the mandibular removable prosthesis with distal extension, it is usually required to make a secondary impression [the altered cast impression]. This study was designed to clinically evaluate the conventional method of altered cast technique with modified altered cast technique. This prospective experimental study was conducted with 15 patients. They were treated with two methods of conventional and modified altered cast techniques. Following an oral examination, a questionnaire was used to collect clinical information on the occurrence of ulceration on the ridge, denture border areas, buccal shelf and retromolar pad areas, as well as the sufficiency of denture base extension. Patients were followed up 24 hours and one week after using the partial dentures. In conventional altered cast impression technique, it is required to dissect the casts and form the impression boxing in order to make sure that the master cast is properly registering the distal extension ridge anatomical features. Separation of the edentulous portion from the master cast is eliminated in the modified altered cast impression technique. This makes it more efficient, convenient for patient and less time consuming procedure. The X[2] and fisher's exact tests were used to detect significant levels. The percent of ulceration on the ridge, denture border areas, and buccal shelf as well as the retromolar pad areas were lower in modified altered cast impression technique compared with the conventional altered cast impression method. The percentage of the denture base extension in the modified altered cast impression technique was better than the conventional altered cast impression method. The extension of denture base in distolingual areas of modified altered cast impression technique was the same as the conventional altered cast technique. The difference between the two procedures was not statistically significant. The modified alerted cast technique can result in saving time, increasing the patient's satisfaction and comfort, which makes it the recommendable procedure for making removable partial dentures with distal extensions