Anatomy Of Denture Bearing Areas

Question 1

What are the landmarks of an edentulous jaw?

Answer 1

Supporting/load bearing areas
Relief areas
Limiting areas/structures

Question 2

Name the limiting structures of the maxilla.

Answer 2

Labial frenum and sulcus
Buccal frenum and sulcus
Hamular notch
Posterior palatal seal

Question 3

Functions of the posterior palatal seal.

Answer 3

Prevents the formation of a gap between the denture and the palate
Prevents food accumulation
Reduces the risk of gag reflex
Provides retention due to adequate seal?

Question 4

Functions of the posterior palatal seal.

Answer 4

Prevents the formation of a gap between the denture and the palate
Prevents food accumulation
Reduces the risk of gag reflex
Aids in retention
Compensates for polymerization shrinkage

Question 5

What are the primary and secondary stress bearing areas of the maxilla?

Answer 5

Primary: Hard palate, Posterior -lateral slopes of the alveolar ridge
Secondary: rugae, alveolar tubercle, maxillary tuberosity

Question 6

What are the relief areas of the maxilla?

Answer 6

Incisive papilla, mid palatine raphe, rugae, palatal tori, fovea palatine

Question 7

5 days after delivery of a CP, the patient comes back for review and you realize there is paraesthesia of the anterior palate. What could be wrong?

Answer 7

The denture is exerting force/stress on the incisive papilla, and through that there is compression on the nasopalatine nerve and sphenopalatine artery.

Question 8

Name the denture bearing areas of the mandible, as well as the limiting and relief structures.

Answer 8

Load bearing/supporting: buccal shelf area, alveolar ridge
Limiting: sulcus, frenum, lingual sulcus, retromolar pad, pterygomandibular raphe
Relief: mental foramen, genial tubercle, mylohyoid ridge, mandibular tori

Question 9

Explain the landmarks

Answer 9

Limiting: these are the areas that are used to for optimal extension of the denture. There should be maximum SA of the denture without encroaching on the muscle activity in this area. Otherwise there may be a reduction in stability, retention and support

Relief: these are the areas that should be relieved either because the structures have thin mucosa that may be easily traumatized, the area may house fragile structures, or they resort under constant load.

Supporting: these are the load bearing areas; the load is concentrated these areas.