Cephalometric evaluation of the changes in patients wearing complete dentures. A ten-year longitudinal study.

This study analyzed the longitudinal cephalometric head films of 37 edentulous patients over a 10-year period. The purpose of the investigation was to document changes within the craniofacial complex, residual ridge resorption, and position of the dentures. The changes were correlated with the following variables: age, sex, skeletal pattern, number of years edentulous, technique of denture fabrication, and nighttime wear of the dentures. Findings in this study suggest the following. The maxillae and the mandible showed sagittal spatial counterclockwise displacement. Complete dentures exhibit a counterclockwise rotation and forward movement. Soft tissue seating is more important than alveolar ridge resorption in the positional changes of complete dentures. Variation in denture techniques had no influence on the observed changes. Artificial porcelain teeth did not show a measurable amount of attrition during the 10-year observation period. Observed changes were not significantly affected by variables such as sex, years edentulous, nighttime wear, or skeletal pattern. Two exceptions were that the skeletal pattern affects prognathism and number of years edentulous affects mandibular ridge resorption.