Complete denture displacement following open-mouth reline

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Prosthodontics
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Complete dentures require periodic relining to maintain fit and function.
• The open-mouth reline technique is commonly used but its effect on condylar position is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the condylar displacement following complete denture relines using the open-mouth technique.
• To assess the clinical relevance of observed denture shifts on occlusion.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-one complete denture wearers underwent upper or lower denture relines.
• Centric relation (CR) was recorded using the Central-Bearing-Point (CBP) method before and after relining.
• A custom device measured the 3D condylar position for each CR registration.

Main Results:

• Upper denture relines resulted in a mean condylar displacement of 2.5 mm.
• Lower denture relines caused a mean displacement of 2.0 mm (right) and 1.6 mm (left).
• The precision of CBP registrations (0.5 mm pre-reline, 0.3 mm post-reline) indicated the displacement was not due to methodological bias.

Conclusions:

• Relining complete dentures with the open-mouth technique can lead to substantial denture displacement.
• These shifts may result in clinically significant occlusal discrepancies.
• Careful post-reline occlusal evaluation and potential remounting are crucial for optimal denture function.