title: Do flexible acrylic resin lingual flanges improve retention of mandibular complete dentures?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the retention of conventional mandibular complete dentures with that of mandibular complete dentures having lingual flanges constructed with flexible acrylic resin "Versacryl."
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample comprised 10 completely edentulous patients. Each patient received one maxillary complete denture and two mandibular complete dentures. One mandibular denture was made of conventional heat-cured acrylic resin and the other had its lingual flanges made of flexible acrylic resin Versacryl. Digital force-meter was used to measure retention of mandibular dentures at delivery and at 2 weeks and 45 days following denture insertion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The statistical analysis showed that at baseline and follow-up appointments, retention of mandibular complete dentures with flexible lingual flanges was significantly greater than retention of conventional mandibular dentures (P < 0.05). In both types of mandibular dentures, retention of dentures increased significantly over the follow-up period (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of flexible acrylic resin lingual flanges in the construction of mandibular complete dentures improved denture retention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ayman Elmorsy
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ahmed Elmorsy
authors.affiliation: Department of Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics, Oral and Dental Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Eman Mostafa
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ahmed Ibraheem
authors.affiliation: Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Alaa Aboul
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ela
authors.affiliation: Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fahmy
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad Zakaria
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Nassani
keywords: Complete denture; flexible acrylic; lingual flange; retention