A combination of the neutral zone and the polished surface impression techniques is a useful method to reserve the functional and physiological forms of the underlying mandibular residual ridge by enhancing both retention and stability in Malaysian geriatric patients (2-year clinical study).

A total of 25 Malaysian geriatric patients have participated in the current study. Two sets of dentures were served to the patients. The first set was constructed according the conventional method of complete denture construction whereas the second set was constructed by using neutral zone and polished surface impression techniques.

The patients were followed up for 2 years and the obtained results showed that all patients have stopped using the conventional dentures and continued with the test dentures. The comparative analysis exhibited significant difference (p < 0.05) in favor of test dentures.

Combination of the neutral zone and the polished surface techniques can impart a physiological reservation to the underlying residual ridge without changes.

It is common for completely edentulous geriatric patients to have resorbed mandibular residual ridge because of the process of aging. Some surgical interactions are contraindicated for this age group of patients, so, neutral zone technique and/or polished surface impression verified effective in improving stability for lower complete dentures. In spite of the fact that the above mentioned methods often used to enhance stability of complete denture, most of the studies were relying on only one of those methods to improve stability rather than retention. Researcher hypothesis stated that a combination of the neutral zone and the polished surface impression techniques should be performed together to enhance both stability and retention and henceforth reservation of the residual ridge under mandibular complete dentures issued to the patients with a constant follow-up for two consecutive years.

Mustafa AA. Management of Edentulous Resorbed Mandibular Residual Ridge in Malaysian Geriatric Patients: 2-Year Clinical Study. Int J Prosthodont Restor Dent 2013;3(2):83-86.