OBJECTIVEThis study aims to develop a mandibular impression technique for type four edentulous jaws.

METHODSTwenty patients with type four edentulous jaws were selected for this study. The mandibular impression for each patient was made using both a traditional impression technique and the impression technique with a tissue-stop area. After the cast was made for each impression, the temporary denture bases were constructed on each cast. When the patients wear temporary denture bases, they must appreciate the degree of comfortability provided by each denture base. Whether the soft tissues that had been pushed away was also recorded. For 10 of the randomly selected patients, a complete denture was made using the traditional impression technique; the remaining ten subjects were given complete dentures constructed by the impression technique with a tissue-stop area. The number of times a review for misfit was recorded. The tissue fitness of each denture was also recorded.

RESULTSA paired t-test showed that the soft tissues that stacked on the residual ridge were more readily pushed away by the impression technique with a tissue-stop area than by the traditional impression technique. However, for all patients, the degree of comfortability did not vary when different techniques were used. The independent t-test results indicated that the differences between the fitness of dentures constructed using different impression techniques were not significant. The number of times a review for misfit conducted by the impression technique with a tissue-stop area was considerably lower than that for patients wearing traditionally dentures.

CONCLUSIONUsing the impression technique with a tissue-stop area can more readily push away the soft tissues packed on the residual ridge and reduce the times of review for misfit compared with using the traditional technique. However, the degree of comfortability and fitness of denture are not improved.