JPDA Vol. 22 No. 04 Oct-Dec 2013 265
REPLACING EXISTING DENTURES BY COPY-DENTURE
TECHNIQUE FOR GERIATRIC PATIENTS: A CASE REPORT
Syed Rashid Habib1B.D.S., F.C.P.S.
Fahim Ahmed Vohra2B.D.S, MFDS, MClinDent, MRD RCS
Patients requesting replacement complete dentures have often worn the same set of dentures, successfully for many
years. They have become accustomed with the fitting, polished and occlusal surfaces of their dentures. Patients
should be provided with prosthesis which optimize esthetics, phonetics and function along with preserving the health
of existing oral structures. Physical and mental adaptability of patients is of utmost importance in achieving success
in complete denture therapy. This case report presents a method of complete denture fabrication along with its
clinical and laboratory steps, which involve replicating the desired features of the prosthesis, along with improvements
in esthetic, occlusion and stability, utilizing a three visit copy denture technique.
KEY WORDS: Copy denture, Existing dentures Replacing Techique Geriatric patiant.
HOW TO CITE: Vohra FA, Habib SR. Copy denture, Existing dentures Replacing Techique Geriatric patiant.
J Pak Dent Assoc 2013;
INT RO DU CT IO N
The treatment of patients who need complete
dentures, challenges the skills of a dentist. One
concern is the clinical and technical aspect of
denture fabrication; the other is the general physical
health, local oral factors and psychological well being
of the patient. These latter factors can be as important
as the clinical and technical treatment aspects in the
potential success of treatment1-4 . The increased life
expectancy of the elderly edentulous population
augments the challenge of restoring mastication,
phonetics and e s t heti c s for th e s e pati e n t s5.
Dissatisfaction with complete dentures is a common
phenomenon, Van Waas and others have reported that
25% of denture wearers have severe problems with
their dentures6,7. Complaints about discomfort and
instability often occur and many denture wearers report
difficulties during mastication and phonetics8. With the
advancements in techniques and materials, and the
introduction of the implant supported prosthesis, the
satisfaction level of edentulous patients with their
prosthesis has increased9. However, a great challenge
to the clinician is to make a decision in providing the
patient with a conventional complete denture which is
simple, quick and less challenging clinically and
technically or to provide implant retained dentures
which require increased cost, time and maintenance.
Provision of a replacement complete denture to an
elderly complete denture wearer is one of these
challenges faced by a treating dentist10.
Adaptation to replacement dentures is a continuous
struggle for the elderly especially, when major changes
are made on the occl usal and fitti ng denture
surfaces 11. The patients which pose the greatest threat
are the ones with systemic disorders such as Parkinson's,
dementia and physically frail. A clinician mustappreciate
that the degree of adaptive capability of old denture
wearers is also related to the health of the supporting
tissues, their neuromuscular coordination, and their
motivation for learning new skills12,13. Patient with old
and inadequate prosthesis are still able to persevere
with them due to muscular control developed over a
long period. However, a new prosthesis requires the
development of a new learning sequence and the will
to be persistent. Therefore, it is important to identify
patients who may have difficulty adapting or are
unwilling to learn new skills14, 15. In these cases, existing
dentures are extremely valuable for diagnosis and
treatment planning. Most existing dentures, whether or
not they have been worn successfully, provide extremely
valuable information for all stages of treatment16. These
patients will benefit from treatment that makes minimum
change from the old to new dentures, such as the use
of the Copy (duplicate) Denture technique because it
O
1. A ssi s t an t P r of e s sor , D ep a r tme n t o f Pro s the t ic Den t al Sc i enc e s .
2. A ssi s t an t P r of e s sor , D ep a r tme n t o f Pro s the t ic Den t al Sc i enc e s ,
College of Dentistry, Kin g Saud Univers ity, P. O. Box 6016 9, King Abdullah Road,
Riyadh, 11 545, Saud i Ara bi a Office: 966-1-467 7 444 Mo bile : 966- 53291105 6
Fax: 966-1-467 8548
CASE REPORT
