Extremes in Denture Adaptation - Clinical and Psychological Influences

Abstract

During evolutionary stages of different living organisms, new and challenging environments has prompted the development of adaptations that may be structural, physiological and behavioral. The clinical success of denture prosthesis treatment largely rests on patient’s ability to adapt which is time dependent. While the usual outcome by most of the patients is either an adaptation or maladaptation, it is rare to observe patients adapted to extremely faulty prosthesis. This article in the form of two case reports presents unique cases of extreme adaptation to the partial denture prosthesis. Both patients had their respective partial dentures resulted in the loss of their natural abutment tooth to which they were attached. In both cases the respective abutment teeth were dangling within the prosthesis. The extent of damage to the respective abutments were to the level of the apex of the root with one case being that of maxillary canine (longest root). Removal of the denture prosthesis led to the loss of natural tooth in both cases. Psychological aspects of such extreme denture adaptation have also been discussed.