Terminology

• Prosthodontics: the branch of dentistry that

deals with the replacement missing dental
,oral and craniofacial structure.
• Prosthesis: an artificial replacement of an
absent part of the human body.
• Dentulous: A condition in which complete set
of natural teeth are present in the mouth.
Edentulous :a condition in which the
mouth is without teeth it may be partially
edentulous or completely edentulous.
WASHINGTON’S DENTURE
OBJECTIVES OF COMPLETE DENTURE
OBJECTIVES OF COMPLETE
DENTURE
OBJECTIVES OF COMPLETE
DENTURE
 Fitting surface

Buccal flange

Polished surface

Occlusal surface
Anatomy for Complete Dentures
EXTRA ORAL LANDMARKS
 Lips

• Vermilion Border
– Denture provides lip support
• Affects vermilion border width
 Lips

• Philtrum
– Depression below nose
 Lips
• Nasolabial Angle
– Angle between columella of nose & philtrum of lip
– Normally, approximately 90° as viewed in profile
• 4- Naso-
Naso-labial sulcus:
– Def.: it is a depression that extends from the ala of the nose
in a downward and lateral direction to the corner of the
mouth.
– Prosthetic importance:
it becomes more prominent with
aging and teeth loss so should be
restored by proper:-
– vertical dimension
- anterior teeth positioning
- labial flange
• Mento
Mento--labial sulcus
sulcus:
– Def.: it is the sulcus between lower lip and chin.
– Prosthetic importance:
its curvature indicates the character of maxillo-mandibular
relationship.

Class II angle Class I angle Class III angle

• Modiolus:
– Def.: this is located at the confluence of the
buccinator and other facial muscles near the angle
of the mouth.
– Prosthetic importance:
sunken cheeks appearance and
droped angle observed by loss
of maxillary teeth.
Intra-oral landmarks
SUPPORTING STRUCTURE
 Residual ridge:
It is the portion of the alveolar process and its soft tissue coverage that
remains after extraction.

the highest continuous surface of the ridge is called

Crest of the ridge

Residual ridge is considered one

of the primary stress bearing area.
 Residual Ridges
– “U”-shape
– “V”-shape
– Flat
– Rounded
 Maxillary tuberosity
It is a prominent bulge located just behind and above the distal end of the
maxillary ridge

well formed tuberosities offer wide coverage so enhancing support and

retention of the denture.

However extremely large ones

needs surgical correction.
 Maxilla
• Maxillary Tuberosities
– Oversized
– Resorbed
– Undercut
 Maxilla
• Incisive Papilla
– Landmark for setting of teeth
 Maxilla
• Hard Palate
– Median Palatine Raphe (midline palatine suture)
• A bony midline structure
• May require relief when covered by a denture
 Maxilla

• Torus Palatinus
– May require removal
 Maxilla
• “Hamular” Notch
– Posterior border denture
• Between the bony tuberosity and hamulus
• “Soft displaceable tissue”, for comfort and retention
 Maxilla
• Soft Palate
– Fovea Palatine
• Bilateral indentations near midline of the soft palate
• Close to the vibrating line
 Maxilla
• Soft Palate
–Vibrating Line
• Critical posterior border dentures
• Junction of movable and immovable
portions of the soft palate
Mandible

• Ridge form
– U-shape best
– Non-moveable best
– Advise patient if poor
– Affects:
• retention
• stability
 Mandible
• Pear Shaped Pad(retromolar pad)
– Soft pad containing glandular tissue
– Pear shape, posterior border
– Created from scarring after extractions
 Mandible
• External Oblique Ridge
– Do not extend dentures to this ridge
 Mandible
• Buccal Shelf
– Primary denture bearing area of mandibular denture
– Between height of bridge & external oblique ridge
– Resorbs more slowly
 Mandible

• Lingual Tori
– Raised bony structures
– May require relief when covered by a denture
– Thin mucosa can ulcerate easily
 Mandible
• Mylohyoid Ridge
– Origin of mylohyoid muscle which influences length
of lingual flange
– Can be prominent, and/or sharp, requiring relief
 Mandible
• Genial Tubercles
– Attachment for the genioglossus muscle
– Tubercles may be higher than the ridge with severe
resorption
BORDER STRUCTURES THAT LIMITS
THE PREPHERY OF THE DENTURE
Labial frenum
 Frena (singular = frenum)
• Must be relieved to allow movement, without
impingement
• If prominent, adequate relief can weaken a denture
• If too much relief, retention is lost
• Check prominence intraorally
Lingual frenum

Buccal frenum
 Limiting structures of maxillary
denture
Labial frenum

Labial vestibule

Buccal frenum

Buccal vestibule

Hamular notch
Vibrating line of soft palate
Limiting structures of mandibular
denture
Labial frenum

Buccal frenum

Lingual frenum Buccal

vestibule

Lingual pouch

Retromolar bad
• Retention :resistance to the dislodging forces along
the path of placement.

• Stability :to be firm, steady or constant to resist

displacement by functional horizontal or rotational
stresses.

• Support :the foundation area on which a dental

prosthesis rest. It is the resistance to the force
toward the tissue.
 Take time TO LIVE…
Because time passes… QUICKLY
And NEVER returns!