16-26 Alveolar bone loss subsequent to long-term edentulism may be severe and the process may progress throughout life. Although consensus regarding etiology is lacking, 10-16 alveolar bone and oral soft tissue changes observed in denture wearers may be an inevitable consequence of the loss of natural teeth, tissue remodelling, occlusal factors, and/or prolonged denture wear. This phenomenon has been termed “reduction of residual ridges” by Atwood, 7 who considered it a major oral disease entity. Marked atrophy of alveolar bone following tooth loss 7-9 complicates prosthodontic rehabilitation.
6 Considering the projected decrease in edentulism, the expected increase in the number of older individuals, and the need for both maxillary and mandibular complete denture by many patients, it has been estimated that the 56.5 million complete dentures made in the United States in 2000 will increase to more than 61 million dentures in 2020. 6 In the United States alone, the number of adults requiring complete denture therapy is expected to increase from 33.6 million in 1991 to 37.9 million in 2020. 1-3 Current predictions suggest that over the next 2 decades, the declining incidence of edentulism 4,5 will be more than compensated by a 79% increase in adults over 55 years of age. The number of people in the United States requiring removable prosthodontic therapy has increased dramatically over the past 20 years.
