The multifactorial management of the edentulous patient
The most up-to-date epidemiological data show that the treatment of patients who are totally edentulous or who will become edentulous is currently still very high. The probable causes of such a high incidence of edentulism are often linked to the worsening of general health conditions related to specific systemic diseases such as insulin-dependent diabetes, collagenopathies, diseases that weaken the immune system as well as those that depress the psycho-somatic system. All of these pathologies involve therapeutic and pharmacological treatments which, based on scientific evidence, can accelerate the weakening and consequent loss of natural teeth.
The rehabilitation of an edentulous patient is, without a doubt, an extremely demanding experience for a prosthetic team-work, regardless of the multidisciplinary nature of the treatment plan, and, often, it can be one of the most complex in our specialist branch. When the therapeutic choices are oriented towards a removable solution, with exclusive osteo-mucosal support, the difficulties increase exponentially. Therefore, what strategies must be adopted for successful predictability?
The speakers will answer this question, proposing their own work system, which has as its primary objective to preserve the homeostasis of the stomatognathic system which, in totally edentulous patients, is identified in the long-term restoration of the masticatory function with the preservation of residual ridges and respecting the aesthetic and phonetic parameters.
