The continuing reduction of the residual alveolar ridges in complete denture wearers: a mixed-longitudinal study covering 25 years

Abstract

The effect of the wearing of complete dentures on facial morphology has been the object of a series of longitudinal studies by the present author. 1 Tallgren A. Changes in Adult Face Height Due to Ageing, Wear and Loss of Teeth and Prosthetic Treatment; A Roentgen Cephalometric Study Mainly on Finnish Women, Acta Odont. 24. Suppl, Scand. 151957: 1-122 Google Scholar , 2 Tallgren A. The Reduction in Face Height of Edentulous and Partially Edentulous Subjects During Long-Term Denture Wear; A Longitudinal Roentgenographic Cephalometric Study, Acta Odont. Scand. 1966; 24: 195-239 Google Scholar , 3 Tallgren A. The Effect of Denture Wearing on Facial Morphology; A 7-Year Longitudinal Study, Acta Odont. Scand. 1967; 25: 563-592 Google Scholar , 4 Tallgren A. Positional Changes of Complete Dentures; A 7-Year Longitudinal Study, Acta Odont. Scand. 1969; 27: 539-561 Google Scholar The resorption of the residual alveolar ridges during a seven-year period of denture wear was found to have caused a pronounced reduction of the pre-extraction morphologic face height and an accompanying although less marked reduction in the rest face height. 2 Tallgren A. The Reduction in Face Height of Edentulous and Partially Edentulous Subjects During Long-Term Denture Wear; A Longitudinal Roentgenographic Cephalometric Study, Acta Odont. Scand. 1966; 24: 195-239 Google Scholar In subjects provided with complete upper and partial lower free-end dentures, the decrease in facial height was, on the average, only half that noted in the complete denture group. The adaptive changes in the rest face height to the alterations in the morphologic face height have been confirmed in several other studies. 5 Atwood DA. A Cephalometric Study of the Clinical Rest Position of the Mandible. Part I. The Variability of the Clinical Rest Position Following the Removal of Occlusal Contacts, J. Prosthet. Dent. 1957;6:504-519. Google Scholar , 6 Duncan ET and Williams ST. Evaluation of Rest Position as a Guide in Prosthetic Treatment, J. Prosthet. Dent. 1960;10:643-650. Google Scholar , 7 Swerdlow H. Roentgencephalometric Study of Vertical Dimension Changes in Immediate Denture Patients, J. Prosthet. Dent. 1964;14:635-650. Google Scholar , 8 Carlsson G.E. Ericson S. Postural Face Height in Full Denture Wearers; A Longitudinal X-Ray Cephalometric Study, Acta Odont. Scand. 1967; 25: 145-162 Google Scholar , 9 Nairn R.I. Cutress T.W. Changes in Mandibular Position Following Removal of the Remaining Teeth and Insertion of Immediate Complete Dentures, Br. Dent. J. 1967; 122: 303-306 Google Scholar , 10 Ismail YH, George WA, Sassouni V and Scott RH. Cephalometric Study of the Changes Occurring in the Face Height Following Prosthetic Treatment. Part I. Gradual Reduction of Both Occlusal and Rest Face Heights, J. Prosthet. Dent. 1968;19:321-330. Google Scholar