The reaction of edentulous oral mucosa to prolonged denture retention

A bstract — Pre- and post-treatment biopsies were obtained from the maxillary palatal alveolus of ten patients who had dentures wired-in for long periods (median 32 weeks) as part of the jaw immobilization apparatus to limit eating in obese patients. Histological sections were examined in a random, masked manner, and assessed for evidence of inflammatory change. Four showed increased inflammatory change and four decreased inflammatory changes. Correlation was not observed between type of inflammatory change, duration of fixation, age and health of the patient contrary to expectations for prolonged and continuous denture wearing in unhealthy patients.