title: Gingival autografts as an adjunct to removable partial dentures.
abstract: The lingual bar of a mandibular removable partial denture, especially a free-end saddle type, may exert a great deal of pressure on the underlying periodontal tissues. It is best that the lingual bar be placed as far away from the marginal tissues as possible but still on dense, collagenous attached gingiva. If an inadequate amount of attached gingiva is present on the lingual surfaces of the mandibular anterior teeth, this tissue may be augmented by a free, palatal gingival autograft. The patient with a partial denture must be constantly monitored to determine whether any changes have occurred in the edentulous saddle areas. Resorption of these ridges may allow the partial denture to settle, thereby compromising the periodontal health of the supporting teeth.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003779:Denture Design; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged