Changes in occlusal face height with removable partial prostheses

If the occlusal face height is increased with removable partial dentures for patients in whom no evidence of overclosure exists, then the stomatognathic system will be adversely affected. The reaction to this increase depends on the degree of adaptation shown by the patient. If adaptation is poor, discomfort or pain in the temporomandibular joint and its associated structures may occur. If adaptation is good, then changes occur which tend to restore the original interocclusal distance. In the first patient, adaptation occurred by depression of the posterior teeth and wear of the occlusal surfaces of the opposing teeth. When there is evidence of mandibular overclosure, this condition may be corrected so that the interocclusal distance is restored to its original value. The second patient illustrated this condition. Even though the changes which lead to mandibular overclosure occur gradually over many years, patients' responses to a sudden restoration to the correct occlusal face height can vary widely. If such changes are contemplated, the patient's response to them must be tested before permanent prostheses are constructed.