[Analysis of occlusion and stability in complete dentures]

Area of Science:

• Prosthodontics
• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Mechanics

Context:

• Edentulous patients require prosthetic treatment to restore masticatory function and preserve residual ridges.
• Full dentures, particularly those utilizing GERBER's technique, are a common solution for edentulism.
• Assessing long-term (one-year) subjective and objective outcomes is vital for treatment efficacy.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the subjective and objective efficiency of bimaxillary full dentures after one year of use.
• To investigate the impact of tooth positioning and reduced posterior teeth on denture stability and patient satisfaction.
• To determine the importance of occlusal relationships in the prosthetic treatment of edentulous patients.

Summary:

• Forty-one patients received bimaxillary full dentures using GERBER's technique, with careful attention to tooth placement and occlusion.
• After one year, high patient satisfaction was reported for both upper (94.9%) and lower (95.1%) dentures, with minimal dissatisfaction (4.9%).
• Despite a reduction in posterior teeth in many cases, mastication efficiency showed no significant decrease, and 78% of patients regained their original occlusion.

Impact:

• The findings highlight the critical role of occlusal relationships and posterior tooth arrangement in achieving stable and efficient full denture prostheses.
• This research provides valuable insights for clinicians aiming to optimize treatment outcomes for edentulous patients.
• The study underscores the importance of patient-reported outcomes alongside clinical assessments in evaluating prosthetic success.