Fuctional balancing in complete dentures- A case report revisiting the paterson’s technique

Abstract

: A good occlusion is the key to the comfort and longevity of a prosthesis. : This case report presents a 63 year old male patient who reported with the complaint of difficulty in chewing since past 3 months.: On examination, the patient presented with completely edentulous upper and lower arch. A detailed case history was recorded followed by, primary and secondary impressions. The maxillo-mandibular relation was recorded conventionally on wax occlusal rims. A trough was then made in the wax and filled with a mixture of dental plaster and carborundum. The mix was kept 2mm above the plane. The rims were inserted and the patient was instructed to perform lateral and protrusive movements resulting in the incorporation of the compensating curves. The recorded plaster index served as a guide for the teeth arrangement. The denture was processed and delivered with very minimal need for post insertion corrections.: According to Paterson (1923), an articulator with lateral movements is not necessary to establish a balanced occlusion when using the functional technique. The teeth arrangement is entirely dependent on the established curves for obtaining balance.: Various techniques are cited throughout the literature to provide a successful prosthesis. With all the advances in the digital era, denture fabrication is not an automated procedure. It is pertinent that the clinicians master the fundamentals of prosthesis fabrication, without which any amount of technology and/or persistence might be in vain.