Prosthodontics — 30-Min Notes

1. Complete Denture Principles

• Retention: Resistance to vertical dislodgement. Achieved by adhesion, cohesion, surface tension, and border seal.

• Stability: Resistance to horizontal or rotational forces. Depends on ridge form, occlusal balance, and proper base extension.

• Support: Resistance to vertical seating forces. Primarily provided by basal seat area and underlying bone.

• Tip: Mandibular denture → stability is most difficult to achieve.

2. Impression Philosophy

• Mucostatic Impression: Records tissues at rest; minimal pressure. Used in patients with flabby ridges.

• Mucocompressive Impression: Records tissues under functional load. Provides better retention but may cause instability.

• Selective Pressure Technique: Combines both philosophies; most commonly used in complete denture fabrication.

• Tip: Selective pressure = best balance of support and stability.

3. Jaw Relation

• Vertical Dimension at Rest (VDR): Distance between two points when mandible is at rest.

• Vertical Dimension of Occlusion (VDO): Distance between two points when teeth are in contact.

• Freeway Space: Difference between VDR and VDO (normally 2–4 mm).

• Tip: Increased VDO → clicking, muscle fatigue.

4. Occlusion Concepts

• Balanced Occlusion: Simultaneous bilateral contacts in centric and eccentric movements. Improves denture stability.

• Monoplane Occlusion: Flat cuspless teeth; indicated in severely resorbed ridges.

• Lingualized Occlusion: Maxillary lingual cusps articulate with mandibular fossae.

• Tip: Balanced occlusion → standard choice for complete dentures.

5. Removable Partial Denture (RPD)

• Kennedy Classification: Class I (bilateral distal extension), Class II (unilateral distal extension), Class III (tooth-supported), Class IV (anterior edentulous).

• Most common class: Kennedy Class III.

• Applegate rules modify Kennedy classification.

• Tip: Class III → best prognosis (tooth supported).

6. RPD Components

• Major Connector: Unites components on one side to the other (palatal strap, lingual bar).

• Minor Connector: Connects rests and clasps to major connector.

• Rest: Prevents gingivalward movement of prosthesis.

• Tip: Lingual bar requires minimum 7–8 mm space.

7. Crown & Bridge

• Finish Line: Margin of tooth preparation; common types include chamfer, shoulder, and shoulder with bevel.

• Chamfer: Preferred for metal crowns.

• Shoulder: Preferred for all-ceramic crowns.

• Tip: Shoulder with bevel → PFM crowns.

8. Pontics

• Sanitary Pontic: Does not contact ridge; used in posterior mandible.

• Modified Ridge Lap: Most commonly used pontic design for esthetics and hygiene.

• Ovate Pontic: Best esthetics; used immediately after extraction.

• Tip: Ridge lap pontic → poor hygiene.

9. Dental Implants

• Osseointegration: Direct structural and functional connection between bone and implant surface.

• Titanium: Material of choice due to biocompatibility.

• Healing period: 3–6 months depending on bone quality.

• Tip: Mandible heals faster than maxilla.

10. High-Yield Repeated Points (NEET MDS)

• Balanced occlusion → stability of complete denture

• Selective pressure impression → most commonly used

• Freeway space → 2–4 mm

• Kennedy Class III → most common

• Modified ridge lap → most commonly used pontic

• Osseointegration → bone-implant contact