Physical factors in retention of complete upper dentures

Abstract

The physical factors related to the retention of the complete upper denture have been reappraised. Adhesion, cohesion, and, to a lesser extent, viscosity are important only in providing an inexpansible film between the denture and mucosa. Retention is obtained primarily through the effect of soft tissue impaction against the denture base at the junction of the mobile mucosa and attached mucoperiosteum and by pressure contact of the posterior palatal seal against the palate. The influence of other factors has been examined experimentally and the findings have been applied to the question of complete upper dentures.