Bilaterally hinged complete denture for a severely undercut maxillary arch. Solution to a problem

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Prosthodontics
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Extreme hard tissue undercuts present significant challenges in complete maxillary denture construction.
• Conventional impression techniques may fail to accurately capture complex undercuts, leading to poor prosthesis fit and retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel technique for fabricating a complete maxillary denture in patients with severe maxillary undercuts.
• To present a method that overcomes limitations of traditional impression and denture design for challenging anatomical situations.

Main Methods:

• A three-part impression procedure was employed to capture the intricate details of the maxilla, including extreme undercuts.
• Buccolabial flanges were designed with bilateral hinges and a central latch mechanism to facilitate insertion and removal.
• These components were integrated into the construction of a complete maxillary prosthesis.

Main Results:

• The described technique successfully produced a complete maxillary denture for a patient with extreme hard tissue undercuts.
• The use of a three-part impression and hinged flanges allowed for the fabrication of a well-fitting and retentive prosthesis.
• The patient achieved a successful outcome with the custom-fabricated denture.

Conclusions:

• The described three-part impression and hinged flange technique is an effective solution for constructing complete maxillary dentures in cases with extreme undercuts.
• This innovative approach enhances the predictability and success rate of prosthodontic treatment for patients with complex oral anatomy.
• Further research may explore the long-term efficacy and adaptability of this technique across diverse patient populations.