Fabrication of a functional palatal saliva reservoir by using a resilient liner during processing of a complete denture.

One of the major problems associated with xerostomic patients is the poor tolerance and retention of removable dental prostheses because of thin dry atrophic mucosa and lack of a saliva film. The use of salivary substitutes can improve lubrication, provide irrigation for dry mucosa, provide significant relief from symptoms, and also improve the retention of removable prostheses. These substitutes can be delivered over prolonged periods by using saliva reservoirs in the prosthesis itself. This report describes a novel technique for the fabrication of a functional palatal saliva reservoir in edentulous xerostomic patients. The technique uses a resilient liner in the floor of the reservoir. The tongue presses against the liner during swallowing, resulting in flow of saliva substitute through a hole in the anterior part of the floor of the reservoir.

Modified functionally generated path technique for single complete denture against non-modified natural dentition.

BACKGROUND: A clinical report of a patient complaining of frequent fractures of her maxillary complete denture opposing dentulous mandibular arch is presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient was rehabilitated with a maxillary complete denture using modified functionally generated path technique to achieve harmonious occlusion between the complete denture and the natural dentition. DISCUSSION: Using the patient's own denture to record the functionally generated path made the technique much easier and also saved valuable chair-side time. Occlusal balancing in the trial denture bases gave us the flexibility to move the teeth slightly, or grind them in order to balance the occlusion. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: Our modification of the functionally generated path technique resulted in successful rehabilitation of the patient without any fracture of the prosthesis in the 2-year follow-up, and has saved valuable chair-side time and laboratory effort.