An obturator prosthesis for a 4-year-old child following treatment of a juvenile trabecular ossifying fibroma with a maxillary resection.

Juvenile trabecular ossifying fibroma (JTOF) is a benign fibro-osseous lesion that usually occurs in the maxilla or mandible. Individuals with JTOF of the maxilla will most commonly require a resection that can result in a significant palatal defect. Appearance and articulatory, masticatory, and deglutitory functions can be restored with a clasp-retained obturator. Providing a prosthetic obturator with adequate retention in situations where the teeth cannot accommodate clasps because of insufficient eruption can be challenging. This article describes a technique that has been developed for such instances-in this situation, a 4-year-old child who had undergone a maxillary resection because of a JTOF.

Restorative dentistry in the young cleft patient.

This clinical paper outlines the role of the restorative consultant in the treatment of young cleft lip and palate patients up to the end of their cleft package of care on their 22nd birthday. The multidisciplinary nature of the care is highlighted, including the role of the general dental practitioner in caring for cleft patients in primary care. The various clinical treatment modalities used in this patient group are described with an emphasis on minimally invasive and adhesive approaches. The role of dental implants and removable prostheses are described. Considerations for long-term maintenance, much of which will take place in primary care, are also included.

Reducing the risk of failure in complete denture patients.

UNLABELLED: This paper aims to review the factors associated with an increased risk of failure in complete denture patients, based on the strength of the available evidence base. These include accuracy of jaw relations, a poorly formed mandibular ridge, poor quality dentures and patient neuroticism. Clinical strategies for overcoming these issues are described with particular reference to impression-taking and jaw relations. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Identifying potential problems will help to improve outcomes for edentulous patients treated with conventional complete dentures.

Prognostic indicators for conventional complete denture therapy: a review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: To review the current literature on prognostic indicators for conventional complete denture therapy. DATA: Original articles studying outcome measures and patient satisfaction with conventional complete dentures. SOURCES: Ovid databases from 1988 to present and subsequent review of related articles from the 1960s onwards. Searches were limited to English language only and used a variety of keywords. CONCLUSIONS: There remains a paucity of research in this area. From the best available data, construction of technically correct dentures, a well-formed mandibular ridge and accuracy of jaw relations are positive indicators for success. Patient neuroticism and a poorly formed mandibular ridge are negative indicators for success. Other prognostic indicators have not been shown to be of significant value. There exists a minority of patients who will never adapt to any conventional complete denture. This problem is more acute in the mandible than the maxilla. There is need for further research in this area.