The use of a soft denture liner for chronic residual ridge soreness

Chronic residual ridge soreness in patients with complete dentures can be caused by various factors. A differential diagnosis between physiologic or anatomic problems (or both) and functional deficiencies in the patient's present dentures must be made. The functional deficiencies can often be eliminated easily, whereas physiologic and anatomic problems may be more difficult to correct, especially in the geriatric patient. If the functional deficiencies in the patient's dentures have been corrected and surgical procedures are not a viable alternative, placement of a long-term resilient liner can often resolve the chronic residual ridge soreness that is present in denture patients. Properly placed and properly cared for silicone or silicone rubber resilient denture liners can provide comfort for over 70% of patients with chronic residual ridge soreness for 3 to 5 years and often longer.