OBJECTIVETo evaluate whether the mesial displacement of the mandibular complete dentures with long-centric occlusal pattern could meet the long centric of edentulous patients and to verify the design theory of the long-centric occlusal pattern of complete dentures.

METHODSComplete dentures with three different occlusal patterns were made for each of 10 edentulous patients. Gothic arch tracing apparatus was used to record the long centric of edentulous patients. Three-dimensional measuring apparatus was used to measure the mesial displacement of mandibular dentures with three occlusal patterns. Comparison of the mesial displacement of three occlusal pattern dentures was made each other and with the long centric of the patients respectively.

RESULTSThe mean of long centric was (1.02 +/- 0.36) mm. The means of mesial displacement of mandibular complete dentures were as follows: the long-centric occlusal pattern dentures (1.016 +/- 0.348) mm, the linear occlusal dentures (1.092 +/- 0.448) mm, the anatomic occlusal dentures (0.409 +/- 0.253) mm.

CONCLUSIONSThe mandibular complete dentures with long-centric occlusal pattern can meet the physiological requirement for the long centric of edentulous patients and achieve a free slide from the centric relation position to the muscular contact position of the mandible.