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Keywords Abstract
Neutral zone; edentulism; complete denture;
period of edentulism.
Purpose: The changing dynamics of an aging mouth influence the position of the
neutral zone (NZ). While the advantage of the NZ concept in complete denture
Correspondence
treatment is quite established, what is not clearly understood is its position in relation
Amit Porwal, Assistant Professor, to the crest of the residual ridge due to conflicting reports from previous studies. The
Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, College purpose of this study was to investigate the distance and direction of NZ position in
of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, relation to crest of the residual ridge in edentulous patients and its association with
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail: age, gender, and period of edentulism.
aporwal2000@gmail.com Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 133 patients
(70 males, 63 females) with a mean age of 58.81 ± 11.78 years. NZ recording was
No external funding was used for this study. done using admix material by following standard procedures. Two metallic wires
The authors declare that there are no were adapted, one on the ridge and another on the center of the occlusal rims, and
conflicts of interest in this study. standardized digital radiographs were made. The position of NZ in relation to the crest
Accepted February 27, 2016
of the residual ridge was recorded by noting the direction and measuring the distance
between the adapted wires digitally at five locations (right molar, right premolar,
doi: 10.1111/jopr.12485
incisor, left molar, left premolar regions).
Results: Age, gender, and period of edentulism had no significant association with
the position of NZ. No specific trend was observed in the in NZ position with a
non-significant correlation.
Conclusions: Distance and the direction of neutral zone position in relation to crest
of the residual ridge in edentulous patients bear no significant relationship with factors
such as age, gender, and period of edentulism.
Designing complete dentures to optimally occupy the eden- the teeth do not interfere with the normal muscle function,
tulous space is associated with substantial remedial challenges and second, the forces exerted by the oral musculature against
owing to inconsistent changes accompanying edentulism1,2 and the denture are more favorable for stability and retention.5 NZ
functional dynamics defining the oral cavity.3 Coordination dentures have shown better results and success with a longer
with neuromuscular function is the foundation of a stable and period of edentulism.7 They have good esthetics due to fa-
successful denture. When artificial teeth replace natural teeth, it cial support,8 sufficient tongue space, and better retention and
is logical to set the artificial teeth in a position as close as possi- stability.
ble to one previously occupied.4 The neutral zone (NZ) concept The changing dynamics of an aging mouth influence the
as put forth by Beresin and Schiesser5 in 1976 suggests that the position of the NZ.9 While the advantage of incorporating the
artificial teeth must occupy a position so that the force exerted NZ concept in complete denture treatment is established, what
on the denture by the tongue is just as much as the force exerted is not clearly understood is its position in relation to crest of
by the cheeks and lips. In this way, the denture will occupy a the residual ridge. Studies7,9,10 on NZ location in complete
neutral zone (dead space) in the mouth. The proper position for denture treatment for edentulous patients are very few and have
the teeth in an edentulous arch may not necessarily be on the reported conflicting findings. To our knowledge this is the first
crest of the ridge but may be either lingual or buccal to it, where detailed study to assess NZ position. Therefore, the purpose
the pressures of the tongue and cheeks balance each other.6 Po- of this study is to investigate the distance and direction of NZ
sitioning artificial teeth in the NZ achieves two objectives: first, position in relation to the crest of residual ridge in edentulous
patients and its association with age, gender, and period of NZ recording with functional movements
edentulism.
The neutral zone was recorded for all patients, and complete
dentures were fabricated. All procedures were carried out by
Materials and methods the same operator (AP). The admix technique was used for
recording the NZ. The admix technique involves mixing of
Ethical approval low-fusing green stick impression material to the impression
All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with compound in a 7:3 ratio.11 All patients were trained to do
the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and functional movements without the occlusal rims and then asked
with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or to perform swallowing movements, followed by pursing of lips
comparable ethical standards. and speaking with the occlusal rims (Fig 1). Once the recording
was done, markings were made at the corners of mouth, and
rims were reduced occlusally by keeping these markings as
Subjects and setting guideline anteriorly and 2/3rd of the retromolar pad posteriorly.
This study was carried out with patients who reported to the Then, tempering and refinement were again done in the patient’s
Department of Prosthodontics for replacement of their teeth. mouth.
All the selected patients were from the Udaipur District and
the districts adjoining it, from the southern part of Rajasthan Identification of anatomical regions for
State, India. A total of 150 patients were randomly selected recording NZ position in relation to residual
based on inclusion and exclusion criteria after giving written ridge crest
informed consent. Patients included in the study needed to A preliminary study with master casts of 12 randomly selected
be completely edentulous with a clearly identifiable crest of patients identified the five anatomical regions (right molar re-
the edentulous alveolar ridge in class I skeletal relation, have gion, right premolar region, incisor region, left premolar region,
knowledge of the time of extraction of their teeth, have a normal and the left molar region) on the casts for the purpose of record-
mouth opening (40 to 60 mm), and exhibit normal mandibular ing the NZ position in relation to crest of the residual ridge. In
movements. Patients without complete post-extraction healing, this study we measured the distance from distal of the retro-
having any bony defect or pathology of the maxillofacial region, molar region on the left side to the right side on the crest of
intraoral soft tissue pathology, reduced mouth opening, history the ridge using a non-stretchable thread and divided it into six
of denture wearing, surgical extraction, or any kind of surgery equal parts separated by five points (A, B, C, D, E). This was
related to alveolar bone, or any systemic or debilitating diseases then transferred on the land area of the casts. An ideal tooth
or terminal illnesses were not included. The study protocol was arrangement was then done on the occlusal rims, and the po-
approved by the institutional ethical committee. sitions of the five points on the casts were checked in relation
to the position of the teeth. Point C nearly coincided with the
Pilot study midpoint between the two central incisors (error margin = 0.45
mm), points B and D coincided with the center of the second
A pilot study on 12 patients checked the feasibility of the study. premolars (error margin = 0.23 mm), and points A and E coin-
Results of the pilot study were not included in the final analy- cided with the distal aspect of the second molars of the arranged
sis. Sample size estimation was based on our pilot study results. teeth (error margin = 0.12 mm). Based on these findings, points
For tests of association using Pearson correlations, a moderate A to E were identified for the entire study to record NZ position
correlation between variables was considered meaningful. To in relation to the residual ridge crest.
detect a moderate correlation (r = 0.30), a sample of 112 an-
alyzable patients will provide 90% power to discover that the Adaptation of wires
correlation is statistically different from there being no corre-
lation at a 0.05 significance. Refined occlusal rims were placed on the master cast. One wire
(stainless steel 26 G) was adapted on the center of the crest of
the ridge from the distal of the retromolar region on the left
Neutral zone recording side to the distal on the right side (Fig 2A) and another wire on
Impressions and denture base fabrication the center of the functionally modified occlusal rim (Fig 2B).
The wires were adhered with self-adhesive tape. The denture
A conventional complete denture fabrication was planned for all
bases were trimmed from the inside (only in the area of the
patients. Primary impressions were made with impression com-
crest of the ridge) to help in seating the denture base on the
pound, border molding was done with low-fusing green stick
casts properly after the placement of the wire on the ridge.
compound, and final impressions were made with zinc oxide
eugenol based impression material. Master casts were dupli-
Radiograph digitization
cated with poly(vinyl siloxane) duplicating material (Wirosil;
Bego Wilh. Herbst Gmbh & Co., Bremen, Germany). Den- Digital (Kodak CR 7400 System Digital Radiography; Care-
ture bases were fabricated on the duplicated master casts and stream Dental, Atlanta, GA) occlusal radiographs were made
checked for the stability in the patient’s mouth. Following this, for each master cast. For standardization, the distance between
occlusal rims were made on the stable denture bases with admix the radiographic sensor and the X-ray beam source was kept
material. constant at 0.3 m. The digital radiographs were then assessed
with a specialized tool (CAD in tools plugin; Corel Draw, v12; radiographic distance between the centers of the NZ and the
Corel Corp., Ottawa, Canada). Wires on the center of the crest ridge crest and was normally distributed for the groups formed
of the ridge were traced digitally, and the total ridge length was by period of edentulism as assessed by the Shapiro-Wilk test
calculated. The measured length of the wire was then divided and analyzed by calculating mean and standard deviation. Com-
into six equal parts separated by five markings representing parative evaluation was done by unpaired Student’s t-test. As-
the regions A to E (Fig 3). Error in image magnification was sociation was evaluated by chi-squared tests, and Pearson’s
calculated by making a radiograph of a stainless steel ball with correlation coefficient was used for correlation analysis.
a known diameter. This error was corrected for in all recorded
measurements.
Results
Measurement of NZ position in relation to CRR
A total of 150 edentulous patients participated in this study;
NZ position in relation to CRR was recorded in terms of its dis-
however, 133 patients (70 males, 63 females) with a mean age
tance and direction. The distance of the NZ position in relation
of 58.81 ± 11.78 years who completed the study constituted the
to CRR was defined as the perpendicular distance between the
study population. Out of the 17 patients who could not complete
two wires at these locations. The direction of the NZ position
the study, 4 patients did not report after the final impressions,
in relation to CRR was ascertained by determining whether it
and 13 dropped before neutral zone recording. Table 1 shows
was on the buccal side or the lingual side at these locations.
that association between direction of NZ position in relation to
Both distance and direction of the NZ position in relation to the
residual ridge crest and age, gender, and period of edentulism
CRR was recorded as zero whenever the wires coincided. An
was not significant. Similarly, there was no statistically sig-
average of three recordings was taken as the final recording.
nificant difference between the distance of the NZ position in
relation to residual ridge crest among edentulous period groups,
Statistical analysis
age groups, and either gender (Tables 2–4). Also, there was no
Data were analyzed using a statistical software package (v20; significant difference in distance of NZ position in relation to
SPSS, Inc. Chicago, IL), and p value ࣘ 0.05 was considered residual ridge crest between left and right sides or between
statistically significant. The numerical variable for the NZ po- facial and lingual (Tables 5 and 6). Additionally, correlation
sition in relation to the residual ridge crest was defined by the between NZ position in relation to residual ridge crest with
Table 1 Associations between direction of NZ position in relation to residual ridge crest and age, gender, and period of edentulism
Region Count (%) Count (%) Count (%) χ2 p value∗ χ2 p value∗ χ2 p value∗
Right molar 12 (9) 58 (44) 63 (47) 3.51 0.48 0.05 0.98 8.12 0.23
Right premolar 16 (12) 60 (45) 57 (43) 3.33 0.50 3.77 0.15 4.51 0.61
Incisal 12 (9) 59 (44) 62 (47) 5.24 0.26 0.04 0.98 4.86 0.56
Left premolar 17 (13) 55 (41) 61 (46) 2.38 0.67 1.52 0.47 8.51 0.20
Left molar 14 (11) 55 (41) 64 (48) 0.65 0.96 1.08 0.58 4.89 0.56
*
Chi-squared test; age: df = 4, gender: df = 2; edentulous period: df = 6; significance level at p < 0.05.
POE = period of edentulism.
age and period of edentulism was found to be not significant sequence of loss of natural teeth and changes in the orofa-
(Table 7). cial environment, thereby making it a unique feature for each
individual.
Discussion Although several studies on NZ have been reported, very
few7,9,10,12,13 have focused on the direction of mandibular NZ
The primary objective of this study was to determine the dis- position in relation to residual ridge crest. While Fahmy9 sug-
tance and direction of the NZ position in relation to the crest gested placement of molars buccal to the alveolar ridge for
of the residual ridge and its association with age, gender, patients with an edentulous period of more than 2 years, Raja
and edentulous period. Our findings suggest that age, gen- and Saleem7 found it to be true for patients with an edentulous
der, and edentulous period were not associated with the NZ period of less than 2 years. Further, Demirel and Oktemer10
position in relation to the residual ridge crest. Additionally, and Raja and Saleem7 suggested that teeth should be arranged
there were no significant differences between the NZ posi- lingual to the crest of the ridge in patients with an edentulous
tion in relation to the residual ridge crest with respect to age, period of more than 2 years. All previous studies denoted facial
gender, and among edentulous period groups. Our results en- and lingual NZ positions in relation to residual ridge crest with
dorse the fact that the dynamic changes in an edentulous mouth a positive or a negative sign and maintained it in determining
vary from patient to patient and are subject to the individual the mean distance of NZ positions in relation to the residual
Table 2 Comparison of distance of NZ position in relation to residual ridge crest between genders
95% CI
*
Student’s unpaired t-test; significance level at p < 0.05.
Table 3 Comparison of distance of NZ position in relation to residual ridge crest among different periods of edentulism
95% CI
*
One-way ANOVA; significance level at p < 0.05; POE = period of edentulism; SE = standard error.
ridge crest. This would lead to erroneous results in determining residual ridge resorption (RRR) to understand the position of
the distance of the NZ position in relation to the crest of the the NZ in relation to the residual ridge crest. Since denture
residual ridge. In our study we considered facial, lingual, and wearing influences ridge resorption, patients with a history of
overlapping positions separately and only the absolute values complete denture use were not included in the present study.
of the distance of NZ positions in relation to the residual ridge Denture wearing has been overlooked by previously reported
crest for calculation of mean distance of the NZ position in studies. It has a bearing on the orofacial musculature14,15 and
relation to the residual ridge crest. Therefore, our results repre- also affects the severity of resorption based on the number
sent true distance and true direction of NZ position in relation of previously worn dentures.16,17 Further, several studies18-22
to the residual ridge crest. have associated RRR with period of edentulism with conflict-
Since the NZ position in relation to the residual ridge crest ing findings. While Kovacic et al23 reported a strong corre-
depends upon the amount and type of residual ridge and its lation between period of edentulism and RRR, Kordatzis et
resorption, it is important to consider factors associated with al21 reported no association between them. RRR is seen more
Table 4 Comparison of distance of NZ position in relation to residual ridge crest among different age groups
95% CI
*
One-way ANOVA; significance level at p < 0.05; SE = standard error.
Table 5 Comparison of distance of NZ position in relation to residual bone loss has been reported to have a linear relationship with
ridge crest between left and right sides of the jaw age,19,33,34 with decrease in bone mass continuing throughout
life,35 Atwood and Coy27 found no close association between
95%CI
patient’s age and severity of bone resorption. Age also affects
Region Side Mean (SE) Lower Upper p value∗ orofacial musculature. With the loss of teeth and the advance-
ment of age there is loss of tonicity, and muscles become at-
Molar Right Side 1.92 (0.11) −0.57 0.06 0.12 rophic, leading to a decrease in force-generating capacity.36-38
Left Side 2.17 (0.12) With unattended edentulism, glossal tonus increases, and tonic-
Premolar Right Side 2.43 (0.14) −0.34 0.50 0.71 ity of buccal musculature decreases,39 resulting in forces with
Left Side 2.35 (0.16) variable magnitude and direction.5,40
In this study we observed no significant association between
*
Student’s unpaired t-test; significance level at p < 0.05; SE = standard error.
gender and the NZ position in relation to residual ridge crest,
indicating little influence of gender. Gender influence on NZ
position in relation to the residual ridge crest has not previ-
in the mandibular arch and in patients with long periods of
ously been studied. Most studies, however, have studied gender
edentulism,16,17,24 with most of the alveolar bone being lost in
influence on RRR with greater severity in females.41-43 Ridge
the first few months of edentulism and slowing down at a later
resorption increases at the onset of menopause and may con-
stage.25-31 Lack of any association between NZ position in rela-
tinue during and after menopause.35,42,44 While elderly women
tion to the crest of the residual ridge and period of edentulism as
had a greater amount of reduction in the mandibular residual
seen in our results is consistent with Atwood’s observations25
ridge in an age and period of edentulism matched population,45
that the amount and resorption of residual ridge are subject to
Bergman et al46 found no difference in bone loss between males
individual characteristics and cannot be generalized. Among
and females.
other reasons that may be attributed to the varied effect of pe-
Sequential loss of teeth leading to complete edentulism is
riod of edentulism on NZ position in relation to the crest of
not known to follow any specific pattern. Similarly, anatomic
the residual ridge are sequence and interval of loss of natural
and functional adaptations that occur as a result of progressive
teeth, which have a bearing on the pattern of alveolar bone re-
edentulism are also patient specific. This fact is substantiated by
sorption, resulting in a differential ridge resorption pattern.18
the lack of significance found in our study while comparing the
The resorptive pattern from the partially edentulous to the fully
left and right sides of the jaws. Additionally, while assessing
edentulous state alters.32 Any disturbance in the occlusion or
the direction of NZ position in relation to the residual ridge
change in the chewing pattern during the later stages affects the
crest, no significant differences were found between facial and
oral environment.
lingual positions in any location. Our results were in accordance
Although age was seen to be positively correlated with the
with previous studies.7,9,47
NZ position in relation to the residual ridge crest at all locations
Although impression compound is the most commonly and
in our study, no significant trend could be established. It has
extensively used material for recording NZ,48 patients have
been shown that in individuals with similar periods of eden-
found it difficult to manipulate during functional movements.49
tulism, RRR was less in younger age groups.32 Again, while
We used the admix technique (mixing low-fusing green stick
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