Hollow Dentures:

Treatment Option for

Atrophic Ridges.
A Clinical Report
JOURNAL OF PROSTHODONTICS 2012 (22) 217-212

Introduction
Hollow dentures are opted in cases of resorbed residual ridges and increased
interridge distance.
The decrease in weight of the denture also increases its stability.

Clinical Report
60 year old male patient
Difficulty in eating and speaking due to loss of teeth
Edentulous since six years
Maxillary and mandibular ridges were atrophic
Didnt opt for implant supported denture because of the treatment cost and
surgical procedure involved

Clinical procedure
Standard clinical procedures were carried out until try-in of the waxed
dentures.
It was observed that phonetic and esthetic analysis demanded relatively
increased height of the prosthesis, which, in turn would increase the
weight as well.
In order to reduce the weight of the prosthesis, fabrication of hollow
dentures was decided.

Materials required
Apart from armamentarium required for fabrication of conventional denture,
following materials were used:
1 mm thick thermoplastic sheet
2 maxillary split dental flasks with interchangeable counters
2 mandibular split dental flasks with interchangeable counters

Lab procedure for maxillary

denture
Notches were
made in land
area of final cast

2mm thick
baseplate wax
was adapted on
cast in Base 1
for denture base

Waxed denture
was sealed to the
cast

Duplicated with
alginate

Waxed denture
was invested and
dewaxed in Base
1 and Counter 1

Template was
formed with
vacuum formed
sheet pressed
over duplicated
cast

Lab procedure for maxillary

denture(contd.)
Denture base was
processed in
Counter 2

Gauze roll
impregnated with
LB AS IM was
placed & adapted
over ridge crest

Template was
placed over
denture base in
Base 1

Petroleum jelly was

applied over LB AS
IM impregnated
gauze

A small window
was cut distal to
last molar to
expose gauze
through it

After
polymerization it
was cut 2mm short
of template
uniformly

Lab procedure for maxillary

denture(contd.)
Counter 1 (with
teeth) was
packed with heat
cure acrylic resin
and cured

After deflasking
two holes were
cut distal to last
molar to pull out
the gauze

Cavity was
cleaned of
remaining LB AS
IM with sharp
instrument and
water spray

Denture was
weighed and
immersed in
water to check
for leakage

A small window
was cut distal to
last molar to
expose gauze
through it

Cavity was air

dried and
openings were
sealed with self
cure resin

Lab procedure for mandibular

denture
0.5 mm deep
groove was
made on waxed
denture 3 mm
below neck of
teeth

Waxed denture
was invested
and dewaxed in
Base 1 and
Counter 1

2mm thick
baseplate wax
was adapted on
cast in Base 1
for denture base

Counter 2 was
used to process
denture base
wax in Base 1

1 mm thick shim
of wax was
adapted on
corresponding to
polished surface

Molten wax was

filled over ridge
lap surfaces of
teeth upto
projection in
plaster

Lab procedure for maxillary

denture(contd.)
Base 2 was
used to process
wax in Counter
1

Deflasked
denture was
weighed and
immersed in
water to check
for leakage

Base 1 and
Counter 1 now
had processed
acrylic resin
shells

Heat cure acrylic

resin was mixed

Flask was closed

with Base 1 and
cured

It was added
along periphery
of shell in
Counter 1 in
small amounts

Weight difference
Maxillary denture : 6.54 grams
Mandibular denture : 3.87 grams

Critical Analysis (+)

The use of vacuum formed template ensured the fabrication of uniform cavity
with appropriate shape and dimensions.
There was optimal weight reduction without compromising the structural
integrity of the prosthesis.
Separating medium was applied for easy removal.
Mandibular denture used heat cure resin instead of self cure, which is weak,
and prone to fracture and discoloration.
Reducing the weight of the prosthesis keeps it from the dislodging forces.

Critical analysis (-)

Procedure is time consuming and cumbersome.
3D spacer material used material for cavity formation, addition silicone light
body impression material is expensive.
Formation of vacuum formed template requires special equipment.
Only the difference in weight of the denture is considered, effect on
retention of the denture is not studied, which was one of the major
reasons for opting for hollow dentures.

Discussion
To increase the retention and stability of heavy prosthesis, numerous
methods have been used, like use of undercuts, magnets, implants and
fabrication of light weight dentures.
Other techniques used for fabrication of light weight dentures used silicone
putty, cellophane wrapped in asbestos modelling clay, pumice-plaster, lost
salt technique, play-dough and thermocol.

OSullivan et al (2004)
They used silicone putty for formation of hollow dentures instead of light
body as described in this technique.
The use of putty consistency makes it difficult to remove from the prepared
cavity, specially from anterior regions, as the opening was made distal to
the last tooth.

Chaturvedi et al (2012)
They used dough of dental plaster pumice and sugar syrup.
This dough is brittle and may break during compression molding, it may
also absorb monomer and in this technique also opening has to be made
in the distal end to remove the spacer which may later compromise the
seal of the denture.

Shetty et al (2011)
They used a denser thermocol which may get displaced during
compression molding.

Aggarwal et al (2012)
They used lost salt technique for formation of cavity.
In this technique, the thickness of cavity cannot be kept uniform.
Salt may react with heat cured acrylic resin and may lead to porosity.

Gundawar et al (2014)
They used play-dough for making cavity of hollow denture.
But used self cure resin along on cameo surface which may not be that
esthetic and more prone to fracture.

References
OSullivan M, Hansen N, Cronin RJ, Cagna DR. The hollow maxillary
complete denture: A modified technique. J Prosthet Dent 2004;91:591-4.
Chaturvedi S, Verma AK, Ali M, Vadhwani P Hollow maxillary denture: A
simplified approach. Peoples J Sci Res 2012;5:47-50.
Shetty V, Gali S, Avindram SR. Light weight maxillary complete denture:
Acase report using a simplified technique with thermocol. J Interdiscip Dent
2011;1:45-8.
Aggarwal H, Jurel SK, Singh RD, Chand P, Kumar P. Lost salt technique for
severely resorbed alveolar ridges: An innovative approach. Contemp Clin
Dent 2012;3:352-5.
Gundawar S, Zamad A, Gundawar S. Light weight dentures: An innovative
technique. Contemp Clin Dent 2014;5:134-7.

Thank You