Charles W. Ellinger

Processing changes in complete dentures: Posterior tooth contacts and pin opening

Abstract Dentures were constructed for 50 patients. The centric relation contacts were marked and photographed before removing the finished trial dentures from the articulator and again on the same articulator and same stone mountings after processing. The amount of incisal pin opening was measured and recorded after processing. An attempt was made to analyze the patterns of centric relation contacts after processing and to determine if there was a correlation of pin opening and tooth contacts. It was found that there was a definite shift of the tooth contacts to the more posterior teeth after processing but that the amount of pin opening did not seem to be related to the number or location of the tooth contacts. The magnitude of pin opening seems to depend upon the amount of shift rather than the direction.

Cephalometric evaluation of the changes in patients wearing complete dentures. A ten-year longitudinal study

This study analyzed the longitudinal cephalometric head films of 37 edentulous patients over a 10-year period. The purpose of the investigation was to document changes within the craniofacial complex, residual ridge resorption, and position of the dentures. The changes were correlated with the following variables: age, sex, skeletal pattern, number of years edentulous, technique of denture fabrication, and nighttime wear of the dentures. Findings in this study suggest the following. The maxillae and the mandible showed sagittal spatial counterclockwise displacement. Complete dentures exhibit a counterclockwise rotation and forward movement. Soft tissue seating is more important than alveolar ridge resorption in the positional changes of complete dentures. Variation in denture techniques had no influence on the observed changes. Artificial porcelain teeth did not show a measurable amount of attrition during the 10-year observation period. Observed changes were not significantly affected by variables such as sex, years edentulous, nighttime wear, or skeletal pattern. Two exceptions were that the skeletal pattern affects prognathism and number of years edentulous affects mandibular ridge resorption.

Patient response to variations in denture technique. Part II: Five-year cephalometric evaluation

This study was designed to determine if differences in rates of residual alveolar bone loss could be found in patients wearing dentures made by a complex technique and a standard technique. Cephalometric radiographs were made for each of 64 patients at initial placement of the dentures and for all active patients at five yearly recall visits. These radiographs were measured to determine rates of mandibular bone loss, maxillary bone loss, loss of total face height, rotation of the mandible, and migration of the denture bases over the 5-year period. At the end of the study no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients could be found. Examination of all participants in this study revealed rates of bone loss that were very similar to those reported by other investigators.

Radiographic study of oral structures and their relation to anterior tooth position

Abstract Lateral cephalometric roentgenograms were made of 50 subjects who had all of their natural anterior teeth and most of their posterior teeth in position. Tracings of certain cranial landmarks were made on acetate paper from the roentgenograms. The landmarks observed included the incisor teeth, the lips, and selected surfaces of mucous membranes that were made visible by a radiopaque paste. Reference lines were drawn and measurements were made between selected anatomic landmarks and the reference lines drawn on these tracings. The variations in the measurements confirmed the fact that each patient is an individual with anatomic relationships characteristic only of himself. However, certain findings may be used as guides in the initial placement of the anterior teeth and in shaping the base material of trial dentures. The tooth positions and the shape of the base material must be revised according to observations made in the mouth.

The effects of a microlayer of silica on the retention of mandibular complete dentures.

Abstract The amount of retention was recorded for 15 patients for both conventional and physiologic mandibular complete dentures prior to and after Durabonding. Evaluation of the data indicates that there is an increase in the amount of retention between the mandibular denture and the basal seat tissue after Durabonding the denture.

A temporary prosthesis for an edentulous patient following a maxillary resection

Abstract The primary advantages of using a hollow silicone bulb obturator on the temporary restoration are: (1) it permits the placement of the pliable bulb into greater undercut areas of the defect, thus providing better mechanical retention and seal for the obturator; and (2) the inherent rubber-like qualities of the material tend to resist sliding and skidding of the restoration.

Patient response to variations in denture technique. Part VII: Twenty-year patient status

Sixty-four patients were originally treated with complete dentures. Two different techniques, complex and standard, were used with 32 patients assigned to each group. Patients were recalled for their 20th year recall and 34 of the original 64 patients returned. Of those 34 patients, 26 patients were still wearing their original dentures. All 26 patients were judged by three project clinicians to have clinically acceptable dentures. In addition, all but two stated that their dentures were clinically acceptable. Neither of these patients were unhappy with fit, but with the esthetics. One patient had worn his denture teeth by pipe smoking and the other had bleached the pink out of her denture bases. The remaining eight patients who still participate in the project have had modifications in their original dentures or have had new dentures constructed.

Single complete dentures

Abstract The development of a harmonious occlusion is most critical to the success of a single complete denture treatment. Achieving this desirable characteristic is usually much more difficult than arranging artificial teeth for opposing complete dentures. Various oral situations were discussed in which single complete dentures are indicated, and a clinical procedure for treating patients who are edentulous in one arch are described.

Variations in mandibular rest positions with and without dentures in place

As part of a seven-year study concerning variations in denture techniques, seven radiographs were made for 52 patients. Three films of the series were made with dentures in the mouth and the patient at the vertical relation of rest; three films were made with the dentures out of the mouth and the patient at the vertical relation of rest; and one film was made with the patient at the vertical relation of occlusion. Differences were computed using an average of the three films for both groups. It was determined that the vertical relation of rest is affected by the presence of dentures in the mouth. However, this difference was not predictable, since with the dentures out, 25 per cent of the patients showed an increase in vertical relation, 59.6 per cent showed a decrease, and 15.4 per cent showed very little change.

Denture modification during adjustment phase of complete denture service.

Abstract Records were kept on the adjustment phases of treating 64 patients with new complete dentures. Five dentists treated the patients independently of each other. All dental laboratory procedures were performed by the same dental laboratory technician under the same conditions.