[Clinical application of a kind of flexible gingival epithesis material].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper is to introduce the clinical and laboratory procedures of fabricating silicone gingival epithesis and evaluate the long-term effects of the epithesis.

METHODS

Flexible gingival epithesises were fabricated by the same way of fabricating partial denture, and their effects were evaluated in 31 patients by following up for 8-20 months.

RESULTS

Patients' responses to appearance showed that their esthetic appearance had been much improved in all of the patients and the comfort and retention of their epithesises varied from good to excellent in almost all the patients. Discoloration of the epithesises was noticed by the patients within ten months in average. Doctors' examination confirmed patients' responses, and caries was detected at the necks of teeth covered by epithesises and slight gingivititis was discovered in the area under the epithesises in two cases.

CONCLUSION

Flexible gingival epithesis is a simple and effective method for correcting gingival recession, and the fabrication is simple and don't need special equipment. However, discoloration of the epithesis remains a problem.