PREPROSTHETIC SURGERY IN THE ELDERLY

Preprosthetic surgery is an aspect of dentistry that has a close relat ionship to prosthodontics and oral and maxillofacial surgery. The main functions of preprosthetic surgery are elimination of pathology in th e denture-bearing soft and hard tissues, and ridge improvement. Limite d vestibuloplasty is still considered a predictable and cost-effective procedure for patients who are well adapted to removable dentures. Th e excellent documentation of osseointegrated implants as supportive an d retentive devices for prostheses has reduced the need for major ridg e-improving surgery. Many clinical conditions, especially in the maxil la, cannot be managed solely with implants. The combination of prepros thetic surgery and implants may solve problems that neither discipline can solve alone.