[Prosthodontic correction of severe deep vertical overbite combined with dimensional discrepancy of the upper and lower dental arch. 31 years follow-up].

Sz. S. a 39-years-old patient was referred to our department in 1968. Patient's masticatory dysfunction, orofacial pain syndrome and substantial weight loss was due to a combined genuine and acquired deep vertical overbite aggravated by a marked difference between the size of the lower and upper jaw bones. The premolars and molars had already been extracted. The lower incisors bit onto the palatal gingiva in centric occlusion causing direct mechanical irritation on the palate. Consequently the centric occlusion position of the mandible was only defined by the contact between the lower central incisors and the palatal soft tissue. According to the literature this kind of defect can only be corrected by a combined surgical prosthodontic therapy (increasing the mandibular arch by vertical osteotomy combined with bone grafting followed by complex prosthodontic reconstruction). Because patient refused any kind of surgical treatment a special upper full arch bridge was constructed with an extended occlusal surface on the palatal surfaces of the front crowns to provide full occlusal contact for the mandibular anterior teeth. The OVD was raised by 11 mm. The present paper reports the history of a 31 years long prosthodontic treatment and patient's follow up. It is shown how the correct centric occlusion, the masticatory functions, the phonetics and also the esthetics could have been maintained by a series of gradually changing fixed restorations meeting the demands imposed by the continuing tooth loss.