Abstract
Purpose: This study was to clarify the relationship between the stability of tapping point and numbers of new denture adjustments in complete denture wearers.
Methods: The subjects consisted of 81 edentulous patients (35 males, 46 females; mean age, 69.2±8.0 years). Tapping point and the Gothic arch were recorded during fabrication of new dentures. The distance between the tapping point and the apex of the Gothic arch, deviate direction of the tapping point and convergence of the tapping point were analyzed. Then we examined the relation to the numbers of denture adjustments.
Results: The average of numbers of denture adjustments was 4.4±1.8 times (males, 3.8 times;females, 4.9 times). The average distance between the apex and the tapping point was 0.8±1.0mm (males, 0.5mm; females, 1.0mm). The deviation direction of the tapping point in 37 patients whose distance between the apex and the tapping point was above 0.6mm, was protrusion in 15 (40.5%) and lateral in 22 (59.5%). Tapping movements were converging in 70 patients (86.4%) and nonconverging in 11 (13.6%). High numbers of denture adjustments increased the distance between the apex and the tapping point to above 0.6mm.
Conclusions: These results suggested that high relations between numbers of denture adjustments and the distance between the tapping point and the apex of the Gothic arch were found in complete denture wearers, and the patients whose distance between the apex and the tapping point was above 0.6mm were increased the numbers of denture adjustments after wear of dentures.
