Custom double tray for a special impression technique for flabby maxillary residual ridge: Case report

The construction of a removable dental prosthesis for patients with compromised residual alveolar ridges is a challenge for prosthodontists. Flabby anterior ridges and hypermobile tissues in completely edentulous arches require special considerations during prosthetic management, especially when natural dentations remain on the opposite side. Previous studies have revealed that the displacement of flabby tissue can be reduced during impressions by controlling the applied forces via changes in factors such as the tray design, scraping of impression trays, impression material, window technique, and seating velocity of the impressions. However, there may still be some forces applied during impression or there is no even space because there are no trays supporting the vinyl polysiloxane (VPS) impression material in the open window area. Using a custom double tray with even gap between these trays and injecting light body impression material may eliminate these forces and provide accuracy due to even space for the impression material. This article is a clinical report of a patient who presented with an anterior flabby maxillary edentulous ridge opposing the remaining anterior natural teeth. A custom double tray was fabricated using the principle of the window technique. The gap between the double trays allows mucostatic impressions of flabby ridge tissue to be made with accuracy. The maxillary single denture, which was made with a custom double tray, satisfied the patient.