Vol. 10, Issue 4, Part E (2024)

Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to compare the satisfaction level of edentulous patients first provided with complete dentures fabricated by the conventional technique and then the same denture base used for the neutral zone.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on randomly selected 20 patients. The study protocol included a screening appointment of the patients to verify eligibility based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A thorough clinical examination was done to evaluate maxillary and mandibular dentures and an OHIP questionnaire was taken before and after modification. 0.4 mm and 0.8 mm stainless steel wires will be glued onto the center of ridge crests and centers of arranged denture teeth respectively to measure the amount of shift in the center using the standardized radiographs were taken 52kV, 20 mA, and 4-4 ms to analyze the non-articulated casts with denture bases and the interwire distance was measured at the centers of right and left premolars and molars. The purpose of this study was to compare the satisfaction level of edentulous patients first provided with complete dentures fabricated by the conventional technique and then the same denture base used for the neutral zone. The null hypothesis was that the neutral zone relocation does not have much effect on patient satisfaction. 
Results: A total of 20 edentulous patients were selected according to the specified criteria. Mean distances between the alveolar ridge crest and teeth in conventional dentures were 2.60mm,3.10mm,2.52mm, 3.30mm at right first premolar, left first premolar, right second molar, and left second molar. The amount of shift in the center of teeth after modification of denture in the neutral zone was 2.40±1.18(P>0.05) at Right first Premolar and Right second Molar was 2.60 ± 1.14(P> 0.05) indicating the non-significant difference between the two parameters obtained in conventional and in the neutral zone (Preoperative and postoperative). Comparison of median scores, for the variables of general satisfaction, mastication and speech were found as statistically significant (P-0.001).
Conclusion: The present study was carried out to determine the amount of shift and patients satisfaction between the center of the teeth and the center of the alveolar ridge. Within the limitations of the study, the following conclusion was drawn:1 The neutral zone was located slightly lingual to the crest of the ridge in the premolar and molar region on the left side.2There was no significant difference found between the right premolar and right molar indicated the position of the neutral zone over the crest of the ridge. 3. Regarding the overall satisfaction the patients found the after-modified denture better in speech and mastication.4 For comfort and stability, no significant difference was observed before and after denture modification. As the teeth were already positioned in the mandibular central fossa of all teeth on the canine- mid retromolar pad line which is similar to natural teeth position and helps stabilize the mandibular denture (Pound’s concept).