[The relationship between tongue and stability of complete mandibular denture]

To explore the relationship between contour and functional movement of tongue and stability of complete mandibular denture.

157 patients with middle to severe alveolar atrophy restored with complete mandibular denture were retrospectively reviewed. Of the patients, 139 cases had normal tongue, 11 had hypertrophic tongue, 2 had macroglossia and 5 had retrusive tongue. An appropriate impression position of tongue was obtained with limitation of lingual movement by individual tray with tongue orientation bar. In measurement of the vertical distance, the anterior wax rim did not contact with a small space. The mandible was used as the standard plane. The mandibular denture was first arranged. The occlusal plane of the mandible was 2-3mm inferior to the lingual margin at rest.

The patients were reexamined 1 month, 6 months and 1 year after rehabilitation with denture. 148 patients used the denture with satisfactory results. The tongue was mobile freely in accordance with the denture. Unsatisfactory results were present in 3 patients with hypertrophic tongue, 2 patients with macroglossia, 2 patients with retrusive tongue and 2 patients with severe mandibular alveolar atrophy.

The anatomic morphology and functional movement of tongue play an important role in the stability of the mandibular complete denture.