Neutral zone approach for denture fabrication for a partial glossectomy patient: A clinical report

VOLUME 84 NUMBER 4 It is recognized that the proper relation of the polished surface of dentures and surrounding tissue is of great importance.1-6 For the patient with an altered denture space caused by disease, trauma, or burns, consideration should be given to a physiologic approach to obtain denture stability and retention.6,7 The purpose of this clinical report is to describe a procedure for making a mandibular complete denture with altered denture space fitted to the neutral zone (the potential space between lips or cheeks and tongue). The denture teeth were physiologically arranged using an index with a tissue-conditioning material. After delivery of the denture, the cameo surface and intaglio surface were simultaneously molded and made to conform to the neutral zone with a hard relining material. This method is termed “border molding” in this article instead of “relining.”8-10