Mona K. Marei, BDS, CAGS, MScD; Mona M. Zahran, BDS, Farid Noaman, BMS, MS, PhD
Alexandria University, 9th Al-Ekbai St., P.O.Box 21411, Victoria, Alexandria, Egypt.

This study compared the effect of different denture base materials on the rate of reduction of alveolar bone height and density. The study was conducted on fifteen completely edentulous females above the age of 50 suffering from osteoporosis. The patients were divided equally into three groups according to the type of denture base material used for their lower dentures. The first group received acrylic resin denture base, the second group received silicone lined acrylic resin denture base and the third group received metal denture base. Patients in all groups received complete maxillary dentures made of acrylic resin. Measurements were taken at the base line and six months later using lateral cephalometric x-rays for mandibular optical density. Measurement of cortical thickness at the gonion was used to monitor the skeletal status of the patients. The result indicated a generalized decrease in mandibular alveolar height in all the groups but the greatest was in metal denture wearers and the least was among the silicone lined denture wearers. In all groups, the greatest reduction in height was in the molar region while the least reduction was anteriorly. There was a decrease in the optical bone density of the alveolar bone after six months in all groups. However, the least optical density reduction was in the acrylic denture wearers, while the greatest was in the silicone lined denture wearers. The correlation between height and density revealed statistical significance only in metal denture wearers as both measurements decreased by the same rate in this group after six months.

Saudi Dental Journal 1997;9(1):21-29.