Introduction
Complete edentulism, the loss of all teeth in one or both jaws, changes far more than the dental arches. Bone, mucosa, muscles, TMJs, saliva and even the face adapt to the new situation, and every complete denture has to be built around these changes.
The jaws and mucosa
Without teeth the alveolar bone loses its stimulus and resorbs, fastest in the first months after extraction and then slowly for life. The pattern differs between jaws:
The upper arch ends up smaller than the lower, a false Class III ("pseudo-progenia"). The mucosa thins, loses resilience and heals more slowly; salivary flow often falls, which weakens denture retention.
The face
- Loss of the occlusal vertical dimension: the lower face shortens.
- The chin moves forward and up; the nose and chin come closer.
- Lips lose support and fall inward; the red of the lips thins; the nasolabial folds deepen.
- Corners of the mouth droop; saliva gathers there, causing angular cheilitis.