The clinical effects of complete denture with reducing vertical dimensions in the aged patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical effects of complete denture with additional 3mm reduction of vertical dimensions in the aged patients. METHODS: Forty edentulous patients with severe resorption of residual ridge were treated with two kinds of complete dentures, i.e. traditional complete denture (TCD) and special complete denture with additional 3mm reduction of vertical dimensions (SCD). After three months of wearing, the masticatory efficiency of dentures were measured by colormetric analysis and the incidences of sore spot was assessed by SAS 6.04 software package. RESULTS: there was no significant difference between TCD and SCD for the masticatory efficiency (P>0.05). But the number of sore spots in SCD was significantly less than that in TCD (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Complete denture with additional 3mm reduction of vertical dimensions is feasible for clinical practice in the aged patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]