Morphological changes in the tissues of the prosthetic field with the use of different designs of metal ceramic bridge dentures

: The results of experimental morphologic studies carried out in 23 dogs evidence that the status of the denture bed tissue beneath a whole-cast bridge cermet denture depends on the tightness of the denture adhesion to the gingival mucosa. If the denture poorly adheres to its bed, no marked changes in the structural components of the gingiva and the underlying bone support are detectable. If the denture adheres tightly to the gingiva, marked inflammatory dystrophic and destructive changes develop both in the gingiva and in the alveolar crest bone tissue. A complex of structural changes in the epithelium, connective tissue base of the gingival mucosa, and alveolar bone crest were traced. The results evidence that inflammatory dystrophic changes in the gingiva augment and result in the development of erosive ulcerative elements in the gingiva in case of a prolonged tight adhesion of the denture to the denture bed; sometimes decubital ulcers may develop in the gingiva. The resorptive processes take place in the underlying bone tissue, causing like smooth resorption of bone matter or to lacunar resorption. Diffuse rarification of bone tissue is also typical of such cases. Excessive pressure of the denture body in case of its tight adhering to denture bed seems to be detrimental not only for the epithelium, but for deeper structures of the gingival mucosa and the underlying bone structures as well.