Case Study: Management of a Loose Upper Denture Opposed by a Shortened Dental Arch

For many years, it has been considered necessary to restore posterior support with a bilateral free-end saddle when a full upper denture is opposed by a shortened dental arch. It was thought that this would provide occlusal stability and prevent anterior bite collapse and temporomandibular dysfunction. As free-end saddle partial dentures are often poorly tolerated by patients, this case study tests whether a retentive full-upper denture occluding with a shortened dental arch offers enough to fulfil a patient’s needs. Clinical relevance: An increasingly elderly population will present dental practitioners with more partially dentate patients requiring treatment.