[An edentulous case with articulation disorder and severe bone resorption]

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Prosthodontics
• Oral Rehabilitation

Background:

• Severe resorption of residual ridges in a 71-year-old patient led to poor retention and instability of complete dentures.
• The patient experienced articulation disorder due to the ill-fitting dentures, which swayed during functional movements.

Observation:

• Initial attempts focused on repairing existing dentures to improve retention and mandibular positioning.
• Fabrication of new complete dentures was undertaken after confirming optimal retention and mandibular position parameters.

Findings:

• The new dentures provided stable retention and did not sway during function or articulation.
• Post-treatment evaluation revealed a recovery of articular function and clearer speech.
• Increased tongue space in the new dentures facilitated wider tongue movement during speech.

Implications:

• Well-fitting complete dentures can significantly improve speech clarity and oral function in patients with severe ridge resorption.
• Proper denture design, considering tongue space, is crucial for enhanced articulation and patient adaptation.
• This case highlights the effectiveness of fabricating new dentures to address complex prosthetic challenges.