65

The following situation is very often encountered: the upper arch is edentulous and in the lower arch only the anterior dentition remains, for example, 34 to 44. If the lower arch is not satisfactorily restored the entire masticatory process will take place in the anterior region of the mouth. This is not particularly disadvantageous for the lower arch, but in the upper arch a flabby ridge often develops. This is due to the concentrated chewing force over a smaller area with subsequent bone resorption and its replacement by connective tissue (Fig. 65).

66

Even when the lower arch is satisfactorily restored the danger exists that the patient will, for the most part, continue chewing with his/her natural teeth. One still has the possibility of forcing the patient to chew further distally by insuring that the front teeth remain out of occlusion (Fig. 66).