Prosthodontics & Occlusion · patient case question
A complete denture rocks from side to side. Which quality is deficient?
Patient case: Radiographic interpretation, discoloration and denture assessment
Scenario: Five items.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Stability
- A. Retention is resistance to vertical dislodgement away from the tissue — the denture dropping when the mouth opens.
- B. Aesthetics concerns appearance and has nothing to do with the mechanics of displacement.
- C. Support is resistance to vertical seating forces, provided by the ridge and the palate; loss of support causes soreness and settling.
- D. Correct. Stability is resistance to horizontal and rotational displacement. Lateral rocking is the definition of instability, usually from a poorly adapted base, an unbalanced occlusion, or a resorbed ridge.
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