A patient with a complete denture comes in for the first appointment showing the denture. What should the dentist check FIRST?

Correct answer: B. Check the peripheral seal

• A. A new impression is not the first step — evaluate the existing denture first.
• B. Correct. The first step when evaluating a complete denture complaint is to check the peripheral seal (border extensions). Inadequate peripheral seal is the most common cause of poor retention and stability in complete dentures.
• C. Occlusal adjustments are performed after confirming the seating and stability of the denture.
• D. Biopsy would only be performed if a suspicious lesion is identified, not as a first step in denture evaluation.