why complete dentures

Question 1

effects of edentulism

Answer 1

loss of masticatory function
appearance
self esteem
quality of life
speech
ridge resorption
soft tissue changes to lip & chin
reduction in face height

Question 2

post xla resorption

Answer 2

occurs rapidly after xla particularly in 1st 6 mths
individually variable
may be dependent on pre xla status of teeth
occurs throughout life

Question 3

cawood & howell’s classification

Answer 3

1 = pre xla
2 = post xla
3 = high well rounded ridge
4 = knife edge ridge
5 = low well rounded ridge
6 = depressed bone level
can have so much resorption that it rests on mental nerve causing discomfort

Question 4

main reasons for needing complete denture

Answer 4

caries (rampant)
perio disease - advanced, hopeless teeth
tooth wear - severe & debilitating
failing dentitions - overambitious tx, cycles of replacement
occlusal relapse - often secondary to above
appearance - often secondary to above

Question 5

other reasons for making ptx edentulous

Answer 5

• head & neck cancer; chemo/radiotherapy
• head & neck cancer; dentition lost in maxilla or mandible due to cancer resection or reconstruction
• pre chemo in some cancers e.g. leukaemia & need for bone marrow transplant
• pre transplant when poor quality dentition & infection risk
• pre cardiac surgery e.g. prosthetic heart valve; when poor quality dentition & infection risk
• at ptx request; consent