OCCLUSAL CONTACTS IN CENTRIC RELATION RECORDED INTRAORALLY AFTER PROCESSING HEAT CURED ACRYLIC RESIN COMPLETE DENTURES

Objective: To record the occlusal contacts in centric relation at the first insertion stage of complete denture. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Prosthodontics department, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar starting from August 2019 to December 2019 using consecutive non-probability sampling. Data was collected from 30 conventional heat cured processed and finished acrylic resin complete dentures (CDs) first inserted into the mouth by checking occlusion in centric relation (CR). Patients having neuro-muscular problems and temporo-mandibular disorders (TMD’s) were excluded from the study. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20. Results: Out of thirty CD patients, mean age recorded was 61±5 years and males (60 %, n=18) reported more than females (40%, n=12). Most of the participants (83.3%, n=25) didn’t perform a remount procedure. Bilateral occlusal contacts (56.7%, n=17) were recorded more than Unilateral contacts (43.3%, n=13). Majority of CDs had 6-10 number of occlusal contacts in CR after processing (46.7%, n=14). Of those who hadn’t performed a laboratory remount, the number of occlusal contacts in the range of 6-10 were noted to be highest (40%, n=12). Conclusion: Proper processing techniques and a laboratory remount after processing must be performed to ensure a good occlusal practice in CD wearers.