PRESENTATION OF A MODIFIED METHOD OF VESTIBULOPLASTY WITH AN EARLY PROSTHETIC LOADING

Abstract

Experience reveals that preliminary surgical correction is quite often expedient in mounting dentures for edentulous jaws. The purpose of the investigation is to introduce a method of vestibuloplasty for edentulous jaws by which the dentures are better held in place and retained. The use of xenoderm grafts with early insertion of the prostheses subsequent to surgical manipulation shows excellent results. Materials and methods: Patients were divided into two groups-with the first group the prosthesis was made prior to surgery and placed on the 7th day after removal of sutures. With the second group the prostheses were made following a complete healing of soft tissue, i.e. 1 month after surgery. With both groups xenoderm grafts were applied to cover the open wound surface area. Results: The post-operative period for both groups of patients proceeded normally and without complications. For the group with early prosthetic loading due to the method of vestibuloplasty it was possible to maintain the depth of the vestibule. Conclusions: The method proposed by the authors using xenoderm grafts and early loading on the newlyformed vestibule has proved a success and implies further in-depth application with larger group of patients.