Abstract
Prosthodontic treatment of cleft lip and palate patients has included conventional fixed partial prostheses and removable partial dentures for restoration of alveolar defects and missing teeth. It is desirable to check and adjust the prosthesis in order to adapt to changes in oral tissue and aging. We report the long-term observation of two clinical cases with regard to the application of magnetic attachments to the definitive prosthesis.
Case 1: The patient was a 36-year-old female with the chief complaint of esthetic problems caused by a bridge falling off （fixed partial denture）. The treatment design was a removable partial denture with magnetic attachment. Five teeth from the left canine to the right second premolar were included as abutments. The pontic was designed to be removable from the base portion of the bridge, and they are connected with a magnetic attachment. This case was followed for 19 years.
Case 2: The patient was a 21-year-old female with the main complaints of esthetic problems. The prosthesis design was a removable partial denture with magnetic attachment. The right maxillary first premolars, the left maxillary canine tooth and the first premolars were included as abutments. The right maxillary lateral incisor, central incisor, and left maxillary central incisor were connected with a magnetic attachment. The patient was followed for 27 years.
We have experienced these two cases of treating cleft palate patients with magnetic attachments, with long-term observation. Magnetic attachments have excellent features, but there are also points to be considered such as the amount of sacrificed tooth and hygiene. It should be possible to extend the longevity and achieve excellent clinical results by minimizing denture mobility, and performing regular maintenance, occlusal examination and adjustment.
