PROSTHODONTIC MANAGEMENT OF KNIFE-EDGE RIDGE USING CUSTOMIZED PREFABRICATED METAL MESH CUSTOM TRAY IMPRESSION TECHNIQUE

Abstract

Knife-edge ridge is a form of an alveolar ridge primarily caused by lateral resorption i.e. bone resorption on the buccal as well as lingual areas at a faster pace. It is usually a common clinical finding affecting the mandibular edentulous ridges; in particular, the mandibular anterior region. It can be attributed to a number of reasons i.e. the etiology is similar to the multifactorial etiology of the residual ridge resorption. The treatment options or management of knife- edge ridge generally includes a surgical and a non-surgical approach. The non-surgical approach involves the fabrication of conventional removable dentures using various modified impression materials & techniques. Prosthetic management of the patients with knife-edge ridge is a testing situation for the prosthodontist. The basic principles of retention, support, and stability are important in defining the success of a complete denture; the same can be affected in unconventional situations like knife-edge ridge. The incorporation of the conventional impression techniques may lead to an unstable and an unsatisfactory denture. Therefore, various impression materials & techniques have been proposed in literature to overcome such issues. This case report portrays an innovative and practical yet simple modified impression technique utilizing the incorporation of a customized prefabricated metal mesh into the custom tray i.e. single step impression technique using polyvinyl siloxane as the impression material of choice for managing the knife-edge ridge situation in the mandibular arch and ultimately ensuring a well-fitting prosthesis.