Occlusal schemes for complete dentures

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Prosthodontics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Complete dentures require optimal occlusal schemes for patient satisfaction and function.
• Various occlusal schemes, including bilateral balanced occlusion (BBO), lingualised occlusion (LO), canine guidance (CG), and zero-degree (ZD), are used.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and compare the effectiveness of bilateral balanced occlusion (BBO) against other occlusal schemes in complete dentures.
• To evaluate the impact of different occlusal schemes on patient quality of life, satisfaction, masticatory performance, and muscle activity.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective studies.
• Searches conducted in Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, supplemented by specific dental journals.
• Risk of bias assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

Main Results:

• Seventeen studies (11 RCTs, 6 prospective) with 492 participants were included.
• BBO did not demonstrate superior outcomes in quality of life, patient satisfaction, or masticatory performance compared to other schemes.
• Lingualised occlusion showed predictable results for quality of life and satisfaction; canine guidance was associated with reduced muscle activity.

Conclusions:

• Bilateral balanced occlusion is not superior to other occlusal schemes for complete dentures regarding patient-reported outcomes and function.
• Lingualised occlusion presents a predictable option for complete denture patients.
• Canine guidance may be beneficial for reducing muscle activity in complete denture wearers.