Neutral zone approach for rehabilitation of severely atrophic maxillary and mandibular ridges: A case report / 대한치과보철학회지

ABSTRACT

The neutral zone technique is an alternative approach for the construction of complete dentures on highly atrophic ridges with history of denture instability. This technique achieves two objectives. First, the teeth will not interfere with the normal muscle function, and second, the force exerted by the musculature against the denture is more favorable for stability and retention. In this case of a 78-years-old female patient with severely atrophic ridges who had been using unstable complete dentures, the neutral zone impression technique was used to increase the stability and the retention of dentures. The neutral zone for both arch was located with modeling compound. After the arrangement of artificial teeth within the neutral zone, the external impression was taken to determine the tissue surface. The final dentures showed enhanced stability and retention and the patient was satisfied with the new dentures with respect to functional and esthetic aspects.