Management of Mandibular Total and Subtotal Edentures

The stability of full dentures is difficult to establish in the mandible, especially in elderly patients with highly resorbed ridges. As a result, the practitioner is obliged to find ways of optimizing the mandibular full denture. These include:¿ Pre-prosthetic surgery, followed by tissue conditioning, enables the osteo-mucosal bearing surfaces to be arranged.¿ Piezography and impressions of stabilizing polished surfaces help improve prosthetic stability by exploiting the peripheral musculature.¿ Balanced occlusion, conventional or lingualized, guarantees prosthetic stability during function.¿ The use of prosthetic adhesive may also be useful.¿ Exploiting residual roots, if they are of good value and in strategic positions, enables the creation of a supra-radicular prosthesis with several advantages.¿ Implantology, a reliable and recommended alternative, also ensures improved prosthetic balance.All these alternatives, their advantages and limitations, are described in detail in this book.