Denture Drops Wide Opening — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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EasyProsthodonticsDenture Drops Wide OpeningORE Part 1

A patient wears an upper complete denture that is retentive at rest but drops when they yawn or open their mouth widely. Which denture fault is the most likely cause?

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Correct answer: C — Overextension of the posterior palatal seal onto mobile soft palate

**A is correct.** Retention at rest indicates that palatal adaptation and the peripheral seal are broadly adequate. Dislodgement specifically on yawning or wide opening suggests that the posterior border extends onto mobile soft-palate tissue. Movement of this tissue during opening disrupts the posterior seal and displaces the denture. The posterior palatal seal should be located and compressed only within physiologic limits. Labial flange underextension or poor palatal adaptation would usually reduce retention at rest as well. Incorrect anterior tooth position may affect lip support, phonetics or stability, but does not characteristically cause posterior dislodgement only on wide opening. An excessive occlusal vertical dimension causes broader functional or comfort problems rather than this reproducible posterior-border effect.

Reference: Wicks R, Ahuja S, Jain V. Defining the posterior palatal seal on a definitive impression for a maxillary complete denture by using a nonfluid wax addition technique. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25258260/