SOFT LINER IN ELDERLY EDENTULOUS PATIENTS

Soft liners had a wide range of applications in prosthetic dentistry as a result of their viscoelastic properties.They are used in special clinical situations, such as very advanced bone resorption, pronounced bone undercutting, where the hardness of conventional prostheses is unbearable for elderly edentulous patients. Their use increased also retention and minimized trauma by preventing a direct contact of hard denture base with compromised tissues. While no ideal soft material exists, the choice of type and technique should take into account the clinical conditions of the patient. The soft liner should never be used as a solution to prosthetic design errors. Limits of soft bases are mostly related to the ageing process. These include lack of adhesion to the hard base, hardness, colorability, and fungal colonization.The maintenance of a good hygiene with a correct use of different products and disinfection techniques allow the soft liners to keep their physical and mechanical properties as long as possible, and avoid their frequent renewal.