Prosthetic concerns about atrophic alveolar ridges.

Recently, research has provided much insight into the problem of residual ridge resorption. It has become clear that ridge maintenance and preservation dramatically improves the quality of restorative dentistry provided, in addition to lessening the complexity of the treatment plan for the dentist. This article discusses the concerns, difficulties, and prosthetic challenges that must be addressed when restoring a patient with residual ridge resorption to acceptable function and esthetics. While patients can expect to lose a significant portion of their residual ridge as a result of normal physiologic activity, frequently resorption is the result of tooth extraction. The importance of postextraction grafting with calcium phosphates and the complexity of the prosthodontic rehabilitation needed to restore residual ridge resorption patients is also reviewed.