A comparative clinical trial for evaluating the posterior palatal seal developed from the conventional method and a novel functional swallow method.

Aims: The aim of this in vivo study was to compare the influence of posterior palatal seal (PPS) developed from the conventional method and a novel functional swallow method on the retention of custom tray and heat cure denture base. Settings and Design: This was a nonrandomized crossover clinical trial. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients requiring maxillary complete dentures were selected. In Group 1, for all twenty patients, the PPS was developed with the conventional functional method during border molding and a conventional cast scoring was performed before processing the denture base. In Group 2, for all the twenty patients, the PPS was developed with a novel functional swallow method and the master cast was "not" scored before processing the denture base. The retention was objectively measured using a dynamometer after border molding and also after processing the denture base for both groups. Statistical Analysis Used: Independent Student's t-test and paired t-test were used for analysis. Results: The mean retention value of Group 2 was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than Group 1 at border molding and after denture base processing. Within Group 1, the retention value significantly increased (P < 0.001) from border molding to the denture base stage, whereas within Group 2, there was no significant change (P > 0.001) between the stages. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the study, the novel functional swallow method of establishing the PPS demonstrated higher retention than the conventional method both during border molding and after processing the denture base.

A Digital Chairside Technique for an Accurate Evaluation of the Taper of the Prepared Teeth for the Restoration of Crowns and Fixed Partial Dentures.

AIM: The aim of the article was to provide a digital chairside method for the objective evaluation of the taper of prepared abutment teeth retaining a fixed partial denture (FPD). BACKGROUND: According to research, the taper of the abutment teeth supporting an FPD has a direct effect on both retention and stress transmission to the abutment teeth. However, no approaches have been documented in the literature that objectively quantify the taper of the prepared teeth chairside, in a simple and cost-effective manner. TECHNIQUE: The proposed technique utilized an intraoral camera with an on-the-go (OTG) connection, and a silicone dental bite block. The images of the prepared teeth were captured using this camera from the facial aspect. An indigenous program was developed using the MATLAB (Matrix Laboratory 2013) software for the analysis of the images and the taper of each abutment tooth was calculated in degrees using the software. CONCLUSION: The novel, chairside, digital technique utilizes an intraoral camera and a computer-generated software package to quantify and evaluate the taper of abutment teeth efficiently. This, in turn, can help minimize the errors in the treatment of FPD and improve the retention of the prosthesis. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The current technique enables the clinician to avoid over-preparation of the abutment teeth by assessing its taper chairside. This digital technique can be a beneficial alternative to the existing procedures for an accurate assessment of taper, especially for the inexperienced operator. Hence, the quality of retention, and thereby the long-term success of the crowns and FPDs, can be enhanced. This article was presented as a postgraduate paper titled "Scan and Plan" on March 6, 2020, at 22nd IPS (Indian Prosthodontic Society) PG Convention, Kochi, India.

A Novel Functional Swallow Method to Establish the Posterior Palatal Seal during the Maxillary Edentulous Final Impression: A Case Report.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To propose an alternate, r eliable, and easy-to-use functional swallow method for establishing the posterior palatal seal. BACKGROUND: Accurate r egistration of the posterior palatal seal is crucial to the success of the maxillary complete denture. The conventionally used functional "Ah" technique may not be r eliable at times to record the posterior palatal seal, hence compromising the retention of the maxillary complete denture. Case description and technique: A 70-year-old female patient requiring complete dentures presented with an unusually tense soft palate during the phase of posterior palatal seal development. The soft palate did not relax and remained in a superior position when the "Ah" functional method was used to record the seal. The posterior palatal seal area could not be compressed sufficiently during border molding, preventing the formation of an adequate seal. Hence, a new functional technique was devised to relax and displace the soft palate for developing an effective seal. This case report describes a novel and reliable method of displacing the posterior palatal seal area with a low-fusing compound by utilizing the patient's functional swallow position. CONCLUSION: The functional swallow method can be used effectively as an alternative and reliable method to obtain a consistent posterior palatal seal. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The functional swallow method of developing the posterior palatal seal is simple, less demanding on the clinician, and can save chairside time. It also helps in an easy transfer of the demarcated posterior palatal seal area to the custom tray. The method lets the dentist be in charge of developing the seal rather than relying on the arbitrary cast scrapping by the technician. Also, the seal can be achieved by employing commonly used materials.