PROVISIONAL OVERLAY REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURE IN ORAL REHABILITATION OF A PATIENT WITH POSTERIOR OCCLUSAL COLLAPSE

Abstract

Introduction: Several studies have shown that in clinical cases in which there is a decrease in the Occlusal Vertical Dimension (OVD) and imbalance of the stomatognathic system, oral rehabilitation can be performed with the use of Removable Partial Dentures (RPD) with occlusal coverage (overlay type), associated or not with restorations, in order to reestablish the OVD and occlusal plane and to eliminate occlusion alterations, thus functioning as a guide to final rehabilitation. Clinical case report: This article describes the use of provisional overlay RPD in oral rehabilitation of a female patient, 56 years old, with posterior occlusal collapse and excessive tooth wear. This approach was adopted in order to prepare the oral environment and restore the OVD prior to rehabilitation with final prostheses. The sequence of treatment involved clinical and radiographic examination procedures, tooth casting, aesthetic and functional reestablishment of occlusal planes through the determination of OVD and Centric Relation (CR), cast-mounting in semi-adjustable articulator, prosthesis try-in and insertion, and follow-up. Conclusions: The installation of provisional overlay RPD contributed to protection and conditioning of the oral tissues, reestablishment of inter-maxillary relations and improvement of aesthetic, phonetic and masticatory functions. These benefits provided comfort to the patient and individual adaptation to the new configuration of the stomatognathic system. DESCRIPTORS Removable Partial Denture. Overlay Denture. Vertical Dimension.