Predictable reproduction of the buccal shelf area in mandibular dentures.

The objective of this study was to assess whether a periodontal probe measurement could be used to obtain a predictable reproduction of the buccal shelf areas in mandibular dentures. One hundred patients were measured for the anterior, middle, and posterior width of the buccal shelf with a periodontal probe. This measurement was then compared with that of the corresponding portion of the existing denture. At each portion, there were statistically significant differences in the width of the buccal shelf and that of the corresponding portion of the existing denture from dental clinics of general dentists. The periodontal probe could be used to measure the width of the buccal shelf to obtain a predictable reproduction of the buccal shelf areas in mandibular dentures.