C. de Baat

Some factors connected with alveolar bone resorption

In this study correlations are described between alveolar bone resorption, patients age, duration of edentulousness, the number of dentures which have been worn, and dentures being worn day and night. The sample of patients for this study consisted of 92 edentulous persons treated with complete dentures at a dental school clinic. The test subjects were asked to fill in a questionnaire to obtain data regarding the research factors. A method for the classification of alveolar bone resorption was developed and the test subjects were divided into classes for alveolar bone resorption according to this method. All data were processed by means of a computer program. The longer the test subjects had been edentulous and the more dentures they had worn, the more intensive was the alveolar bone resorption, particularly in the lower jaw. No significant correlation was found between alveolar bone resorption and dentures being worn day and night.

Professional hygiene care, adjustments and complications of mandibular implant-retained overdentures: a three-year retrospective study.

PURPOSEnThis report presents a retrospective evaluation of postinsertion care required by 104 edentulous patients with advanced mandibular bone loss.nnnMATERIAL AND METHODSnThe patients were treated with new maxillary dentures and mandibular overdentures retained by two implants with a single bar-clip attachment. Distinction was made between professional hygiene care, adjustments, and treatment of complications. The follow-up period after insertion of dentures was 3 years for all patients.nnnRESULTSnApproximately a third of the patients needed professional hygiene care. The need for adjustments declined during the years of function. Complications were encountered in approximately a third of the patients. The majority of these were not related to the implants, but to the superstructure and both the maxillary and mandibular dentures.nnnCONCLUSIONSnMany edentulous patients with advanced mandibular bone loss who were treated with mandibular implant-retained overdentures need professional hygiene care, adjustments, and treatment of complications.

Elderly people's adaptability to complete denture therapy : usability of a geriatric behaviour-rating scale as a predictor

Accurately predicting prognosis of complete denture therapy requires a reasonable estimation of the ability of a patient to adapt. The aim of the current study was to test the usability of a geriatric behaviour-rating scale (BOP) as a predictor of elderly peoples ability to adapt after complete denture therapy. Ninety-five complete denture-wearing residents of four nursing homes for somatically handicapped patients were randomly divided into two groups, 48 test subjects for whom replacement dentures were prepared and 47 test subjects whose current dentures were improved on. The results of these treatments were evaluated by comparing the scores on the so-called scale of appreciation (complaints of and (dis)satisfaction with complete dentures) prior to and at 2 and 6 months post-treatment. Univariate correlations were computed between the scores on the scale of appreciation or the differences in scores at the three evaluation-moments and the foremost BOP-subscale (BOP1, infirmity) and some factors that were considered to be of influence on the process of adaptation. The BOP1 was the only factor showing a significant correlation with the scale of appreciation at 2 months posttreatment; this suggests that little infirmity was connected with a low value of complaints of and dissatisfaction with complete dentures or a positive alteration of this value. It is concluded that the BOP1 can be a useful predictor of complete denture therapy in this group of elderly people. A relationship between elderly peoples adaptability to complete denture therapy and the BOP or any other geriatric behaviour-rating scale could be possible.