Comparison of manual and physiologically molded denture bases in complete denture wearers.

Background and Objectives: In complete denture wearers, the accumulation of food in the buccal vestibule is one of the factors causing discomfort to the patient. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of mandibular denture buccal flange on food retention and to correlate between varying angulations of buccal flange of mandibular denture on food retention. Materials and Methods: Complete dentures were fabricated and the mandibular complete denture was duplicated. The existing (unduplicated) manually molded and physiologically molded dentures were tested for food retention. Twenty test particles having a diameter of 2±0.2 mm were placed on the middle part of the buccal flange and the subjects were instructed to expel the test particles by performing only functional movements of the buccal musculature. The numbers of residual test particles in the buccal vestibule were counted after 30s. The angulations of the denture buccal flange (duplicated) were measured with an optical bevel protractor and trimmed to 50° and the food retention test was performed. Similar tests were performed at 60°, 70° and 80° angulations. The data were evaluated using the Pearson correlation coefficient, One-way ANOVA test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The difference between the residual scores of manually molded and physiologically molded denture base was not significant. The difference between the residual scores at different angulations of the buccal flange of the denture was significant. Conclusion: Only the slope of the flange significantly affects the ability of subjects to expel the test particles.

Bone-transplants (heterogenous)

It is not intended here to describe the fate and ultimate absorption of the bone peg in detail, although it has been observed that the whole process of final incorporation of the peg takes place without much of discomfort into the recepient bone. No foreign protein reaction was ever observed, and also the peg was never seen to extrude. The only precaution required to be observed was that the peg should not exceed 3 mm in diameter and 4 to 5 cm in length. Any excess in the size of the bone peg other than the stated measurements, leads in my opinion, to a foreign body reaction and it is found that there is a surrounding inflammatory reaction, which is not due to a septic process. Hence the limitations of use is evident. As cited in the cases above, one thing stands out in common, and that is, the peg must be slender enough to be incorporated into the medullary cavity of a metacarpal or that of a radius, ulna or a drill hole of 2.5 mm in the case of medial malleolus of medial epicondyle of the humerus. Therefore, it is clear, that no extensive beef-bone plate or other stout pegs can be used with success. It is pointed out, that in these selected variety of fractures, use of a slender beef-bone peg is met with good results and good union. The following X-Ray pictures denote where the beef-bone pegs were used with satisfactory results.