RETENTION AND STABILITY OF THE MAXILLARY DENTURE DURING FUNCTION

The objectives of this study were to provide a quantitative account of the extent to which the maxillary complete denture moves during funct ion (chewing, swallowing, and speech production) and to determine whet her differences in movement occur as a function of denture fit. A tota l of 24 patients were studied, 12 with poorly fitting dentures and 12 with well-fitting dentures. Denture movements were measured with a Myo tronics kinesiograph that tracked the movements of a small magnet atta ched to the inferior surface of the denture. Results indicated that de nture movement was greatest for the two chewing activities; varied ext ensively from individual to individual; and that there were no statist ically significant overall movement effects as a function of fit. It w as concluded that all maxillary dentures are subject to movements in a ll directions, but that the degree of movement is related more to the individual denture Rearer than it is to the fit of the denture.