Longitudinal Study of Soft-Tissue Profile Changes in Patients Receiving Immediate Complete Dentures

The gradual changes in the skeletal and soft-tissue profile of complete denture wearers resulting from residual ridge reduction were studied using profile cephalometric films obtained from 21 subjects during a 2-year period of denture use. The variables for each observation stage were calculated from 58 digitized reference points. During the first 6 months of denture use, a marked anterosuperior rotation of the mandible as a result of ridge resorption caused a similar profile change of the soft-tissue chin and mandibular lip. Continuing ridge reduction resulted in a marked change of mandibular position at the 2-year stage, leading to a pronounced protrusion of the chin and mandibular lip and a more outward position of the maxillary lip.