Treatment of Edentulous Patient with Neutral Zone Technique : A Clinical Case

무치악 환자 에서 Neutral Zone 방법을 적용한 임상 증례

The prosthodontic treatment of severely resorbed edentulous patients has been one of the frustrating areas due to extensive loss of tissues. The integrated neuromuscular balance among tongue, lip, and cheek is compromised. The retention, stability, and support are the three major factors to influence the clinical outcome. Fish described a denture as having three surface, with each surface playing an independent and important role in the over all fit, stability, and comfort of the denture. He recommended that the polished surface should be a series of inclines so that pressure from muscular activity will retain dentures. Within the denture space there is an area that has been termed the neutral zone. The neutral zone is that area in the mouth where, during function, the forces of the tongue pressing outward are neutralized by the forces of the cheeks and lips pressing inward. According to Jacobson and Krol, neuromuscular control interacts to provide retention and the relationship of polished surface of denture base to the surrounding muscular structure of orofacial capsule facilitates the stability and retention. This neutral zone concept has been demonstrated with various modification by a number of authors. The theory used to develop the denture base contours is based on the belief that the muscle should functionally mold not only the border but the entire polished surface. Lott and Walsh reported the clinical success on complete mandibular dentures with application of neutral zone concept. A number of studies demonstrated that denture stability and retention are more dependent on correct position of the teeth and correct contour of external surfaces of the denture in a severely resorbed alveolar ridge. This article presents a prosthodontic approach to treatment of a edentulous patient using neutral zone technique to improve the retention and stability of the prosthesis.