A fibrous or flabby ridge is a superficial area of mobile soft tissue affecting maxillary or mandibular alveolar ridges. It develops when a hyperplastic tissue replaces the bone, often seen in long-term denture wearers and clearly related to residual alveolar ridge resorption. The prevalence studies have shown that it most commonly affects the upper anterior region in denture wearers and affects edentulous maxilla (24%) and edentulous mandible (5%) when alveolar bone is replaced by hypertrophic soft tissues. 1 The displacement of this mobile tissue occurs easily during impression making causing distortion and also during mastication resulting in loss of peripheral seal. 2 Although these movable tissues does not provide good retention but should be recorded to ensure good support. 3,4 Also, when the new denture is adjusted into the mouth, patient's complains of pain caused by compression of tissues between the denture and the bone. Therefore, the intaglio surface of the dentures or the surface from where pressure is transmitted should have maximum possible area to reduce pressure on the oral mucosa. During impression making this mobile tissue should be recorded without distortion using special techniques that would provide for adequate retention, stability and support in a complete denture. 5 Flabby ridges have also been reported in cases with maxillary complete dentures opposing mandibular natural teeth. In 1972 Kelly described the term " combination syndrome to the changes in patients wearing maxillary complete dentures opposing mandibular anterior teeth. 6 The case presented here describes a special technique for such tissues for successful esthetic, functional and phonetic rehabilitation of an edentulous patient with maxillary anterior flabby tissue since conventional mucocompressive and muco-static impression techniques are not suitable for such cases, as the displaceable soft tissue exhibits 'recoil ' upon compression. 7
Treating patients using tooth supported overdentures can help in preservation of the remaining natural teeth which can provide psychological, functional and anatomical benefits. Retaining roots can provide preserving proprioceptive receptors and increase the stability of dentures, hence it is the favoured treatment for elderly patients with a few remaining teeth. This case report describes a tooth supported mandibular denture retained using a custom made coping to enhance the retention of the prosthesis.
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