METHODS OF EXAMINATION IN COMPLETE EDENTULISM

Complete edentulism remains an important clinical and social problem in modern dentistry because it affects chewing efficiency, speech, facial aesthetics, temporomandibular function, nutrition, psychological comfort, and general quality of life. Proper examination of a completely edentulous patient is the foundation for successful prosthodontic rehabilitation, because the clinical outcome depends not only on the fabrication of a denture, but also on the accurate assessment of mucosa, residual alveolar ridges, jaw relationships, muscle attachments, salivary status, radiographic findings, systemic background, and patient expectations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of comprehensive examination methods in patients with complete edentulism and to determine the most frequent clinical and radiographic findings influencing prosthetic treatment planning. The study included 84 completely edentulous patients examined at the Department of Orthopedic Dentistry and Orthodontics of Andijan State Medical Institute. All patients underwent structured history taking, extraoral and intraoral examination, evaluation of residual ridges, assessment of the mucosa and prosthetic field, functional tests, panoramic radiography, and prosthodontic diagnostic classification. The results showed that residual ridge atrophy, mucosal changes, reduced prosthetic support area, previous denture-related trauma, and radiographic findings such as retained roots or impacted teeth were common factors requiring careful consideration before prosthetic treatment. Moderate and severe residual ridge resorption was more frequent among patients with a long duration of edentulism. The study concludes that examination of completely edentulous patients should be systematic, multidisciplinary, and individualized. A combined clinical, functional, and radiographic approach improves diagnosis, reduces prosthetic complications, and helps select the most appropriate rehabilitation plan.