[Achieving therapeutic success with cast removable partial dentures]

The strategic goal is the complex prosthetic rehabilitation for a period of at least 10 years. Thorough oral examination is the basis of differential indication and treatment planning. The pretreatment is an integral part of the therapy. The construction must take into consideration the following facts. The periodontal support is in general superior to the gingival supprt (dependence on incomplete dentition). Primary splinting is in general superior to secondary splinting. The denture skeleton must be stable. The prosthesis should be constructed in such a manner that it can be extended, adjusted and rebased. The denture skeleton and the connectors should not cover the marginal gingiva. Denture sore is caused by mechanical irritation and infection. Mouth and prosthesis hygiene is of prime importance also from the viewpoint of caries prevention and periodontal prophylaxis.

[Findings on the functional planning of dentures]

Analysis of over 20,000 prosthetic treatments carried out in the area of one association of dentists working under the compulsory public health insurance plan shows that prior to the conclusion of the new financial agreements on prosthetics, a treatment plan based on the findings and aiming at appropriate functional rehabilitation had been prepared in half of all the cases only.

Construction of denture bases from pour resins

Satisfactory dentures can be produced from pour resins at a considerable saving of processing time. The problems of porosity, voids, and heavy anterior tooth contact resulting from shrinkage of the resin during curing present difficulties which must be understood to be compensated for. The use of alginate and a recently introduced modified gypsum product as investing media, as well as centrifugation of the pour resin into the flask, offer no significant advantages over the originally introduced procedure. Further critical research will conceivably improve the pour resins and the corresponding processing techniques to the point that they can challenge heat-curing resins for the largest percentage of denture bases.

[Gingival hyperplasia in bar joint prostheses]

The occurrence of mucosal hyperplasias under 57 bars (according to Dolder) was examined. It was found that apart from the time factor, cleaning habits of the patient and the construction of the dentures played an important role. Short bars are more difficult to clean than those with wide distances between the abutments. The influence of additional factors can only be demonstrated in combination with other factors, this suggests rather complex connections.