Facial arch in the rehabilitation of completely edentulous patients

Abstract

Aim of study. The key element ensuring successful prosthetic therapy is the possibility to determine and record the position of the maxilla relative to the skull base in bimaxillary totally edentulous patients. Methods and materials. Four patients aged between 71 and 88 years were examined at the University Center of Dental Medicine of the Municipality of Galati and diagnosed with total bimaxillary edentulousness. To determine the intermaxillary relationships it was decided to use the facial arch with an arbitrary hinge axis. After this step, the models were mounted in the articulator by two methods: with and without records determined with the facial arch. Results. After comparative analysis of the two types of mountings, a difference was found between the inclination and direction of the recorded prosthetic orientation plane. The intermaxillary relationships determined with the facial arch, subsequently mounted in the articulator, were closest to the actual intraoral clinical situation. Conclusion. The use of the facial arch by the dentist and its corresponding articulator by the dental technician has proven its usefulness in total adjunctive prosthetic therapy. The key element ensuring successful prosthetic therapy is the possibility to determine and record the position of the maxilla relativ e to the skull base in bimaxillary totally edentulous patients. Methods and materials. Four patients aged between 71 and 88 years were examined at the University Center of Dental Medicine of the Municipality of Galati and diagnosed with total bimaxillary edentulousness. To determine the intermaxillary r elationships it was decided to use the facial arch with an arbitrary hinge axis. After this s tep, the models were mounted in the articulator by two methods: with and without records deter mined with the facial arch. Results. After comparative analysis of the two types of mountings, a difference was found between the inclination and direction of the recorded prosthetic orientation plane. The intermaxillary relationships determined with the facial arch, subsequentl y mounted in the articulator, were closest to the actual intraoral clinical situation. Conclusion. The use of the facial arch by the dentist and its corre sponding articulator by the dental technician has proven its usefulness in total adjunctive prosthetic therapy.