Repair of a removable partial denture using gold occlusals.

Limited interarch space causes maintenance problems with removable partial dentures. The problem of abrasion and breakage of acrylic resin teeth, the concomitant supraeruption of opposing natural teeth, and possible decrease of vertical dimension of occlusion can be prevented or minimized with cast-gold occlusals. Use of metal occlusals has been advocated on newly constructed removable partial dentures, but not on existing prostheses with severely worn or broken denture teeth. This article describes a repair procedure for a removable partial denture where minimal interarch distance resulted in wear and breakage of denture teeth. A thin, abraded denture tooth that had been repaired numerous times was prepared and covered with a cast gold restoration. The problem of abrasion and breakage of the acrylic resin tooth was solved and the service life of the prosthesis was extended.