A Study on the Movements of Maxillary Complete Dentures

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to quantitate the movement three-dimensionally and consecutively as well as to evaluate the stability of the maxillary complete denture during masticatory movements. Firstly, a system for measuring the amount of the movements of maxillary complete denture was developed. The detail of this system was reported previously.Movements of maxillary complete denture of 5 edentulous patients during function were examined with this system. Factors affecting retention and stability of complete dentures were also investigated. The results were as follows:1. During tapping movements, the denture moved upwards and forwards on the whole. The amount of denture movements in the incisal region was larger than that in themolar region.2. During masticatory movements, the denture moved upwards and forwards on the chewing side, but downwards and backwards on the nonchewing side in the molar region. In the incisal region the denture moved upwards and towards nonchewing side.3. It was possible to divide the periods of mastication into two parts in accordance with the change of the amount of denture movements.4. Hard food made the denture rotate remarkably.5. The denture movements were affected greatly by food-hardness, the jaw closing path and the shape of alveolar ridge. But the correlation between static retentional force and denture movements was not significant.