Australian Dental Council (ADC) Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

When a patient reports pain under a denture, one of the first considerations should be the occlusion, which refers to how the upper and lower teeth come together when the patient bites. Proper occlusion is crucial because misalignment can lead to uneven stress on the supporting structures, causing discomfort or pain.

If the occlusion is off, it can create localized pressure points or areas of trauma on the underlying tissues. This often necessitates adjustments to create a more harmonious relationship between the denture and the opposing arch. Evaluating the occlusion first allows the clinician to determine if the discomfort is due to a functional issue rather than a structural one, leading to more effective management of the patient’s symptoms.

While other factors like soft tissue changes, material quality, and fit of the denture are also important in the assessment process, addressing occlusal discrepancies is often a primary step in assessing the cause of pain and ensuring proper function and comfort of the denture.