Application Of Lateral Ball-cap Attachment Denture In Dentition Defect

Objective: By observing the clinical effect of fixed-removable prostheses with lateral ball-cap attachment for insufficient bite-gum space,in order to verifying the restoration effect.It is useful for selecting the rational attachments in clinic.Methods: Selecting 19 patients who need attachment prosthesis for dentition defect with bite-gum space insufficiency from June 2014 to October 2015.These patients include 7 males and 12 females,average age was 64 years.Inclusion criteria:(1)bite-gum space was between 4.0-6.0 mm;patients were not conformed to indications of fixed bridge.(2)upper aesthetic demands.(3)abutment had no loosening or abutment loosening of ??°;healthy periodontal;alveolar bone resorption ? normal teeth with a root length of 1/3 or residual roots and crowns after root canal treatment.(4)had no limb disorder or self-care ability.11 cases were Kennedy class ? cases(including 3 cases of half overdentures),6 cases were Kennedy class ? cases,1case was Kennedy ? class case and 1 case was Kennedy class ? case,all of cases were restored with lateral ball-cap attachment dentures.Follow up survey 1-16 months,patients' subjective feelings and clinical examination result was used as evaluation criteria.Restoration effect was deemed satisfactory if patients felt no subjective discomfort after wearing dentures;dentures were stable;good mastication efficiency;attractive;comfortable and easy to wear and remove;no pain or loosening of abutments;gum was healthy;denture base plate were tightly attached to mucous membrane;no significant swelling or ulceration of mucous membrane.Restoration effect was deemed unsatisfactory if patients felt subjective discomfort;dentures weredifficult to wearing and remove;lower masticatory efficiency;dentures loosen?fell off and had obvious foreign body sensation;abutments loosening;retention or stability of dentures were poor;denture base plate were not tightly attached to mucous membrane;significant pain;and the patients felt still unsatisfactory after adjustment.Results: Through 1-16 months follow-up observation of 19 cases,18 cases had no subjective discomfort,dentures were stable,masticatory efficiency was good,attractive,comfortable and easy to wear and remove.The crowns or nuclei of attachment and abutments had no loosening or pain.Gums were healthy,denture bases were tightly attached to mucous membrane,no significant swelling or ulceration of mucous membrane,the effective rate was 95%.Attachment abutment of one patient who single complete overdenture with lateral ball-cap attachment-retained prosthesis appeared looseness after 3 months,gum was swollen,locally mucous membrane was swollen and ulcer under the denture base plate,poor denture retention.After occlusal readjustment ?relining of base tissue surface and stop wearing,symptoms were remitted 1 week later..Conclusion: The lateral ball-cap attachment retention can significantly reduce the difficulty of conventional attachment prostheses for the patient with bite-gum space insufficiency,and it can also protect abutment and prolong working life while ensuring good retention and stability.