Mouth Floor Pressures at the Lower Lingual Denture Border

Abstract

Pressures exerted by the mouth floor upon the lingual border of mandibular denture during various oral functions have a great influence on the retention of a complete denture.
In this study the amount of pressures exerted with respect to the specific locations of the lingual denture border and with respect to the specific types of oral movements were measured.
Five subjects, each with a free-end saddle were selected, and the vertical pressures to the occlusal plane from the mouth floor were recorded. Three miniature sensors were placed at the denture border placement areas along the lingual surface of the mandibular ridge, and measurements were taken at four different levels of depth from the occlusal plane. At each sensor position, patients were asked to perform prearranged movements which were selected from various oral functions.
The findings are as follows;
1. At the centric occlusion, the pressure exerted is low and stable.
2. At the centric occlusion also during prearranged movements, as the location of sensors becomes deeper, the pressure measured increases. This tendency is quite evident, especially at the anterior aspect during prearranged movements except for the deglution.
3. During the deglution the higher pressure is recorded toward the posterior aspect.