Oral rehabilitation by applying appropriate anterior guidance and increasing the vertical dimension: A case report

Abstract

Patient: A 70-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of poor esthetics and difficulty in mastication due to the incompatibility of a provisional restoration placed for a missing maxillary anterior tooth. After occlusal elevation, a maxillary 6+5 cross arch bridge (shortened dental arch), composite resin restorations for mandibular anterior teeth, porcelain-fused-to-metal restorations for mandibular premolars, and a removable dental prosthesis in the right mandibular molar region were provided.

Discussion: After 3 years and 3 months, plaque control was very good, and no major problems were observed. The patient’s oral-related QoL improved after the treatment.

Conclusions: Thanks to appropriate occlusal elevation and anterior guidance, functional recovery and predictability were achieved. Moreover, the application of a shortened dental arch to the maxilla resulted in an oral environment with less discomfort and a high degree of satisfaction.