Excessive and loose movable flabby tissue is often present in the mandibular anterior residual alveolar ridge area and mild to moderate cases resolve by oral physiotherapy. However, they compromise denture stability to a large extent. The use of the neutral zone to locate placing artificial denture teeth enhances stability since the orofacial musculature does not tend to unseat the denture in such cases. We present a case of an elderly male patient who was wearing a two-month-old complete denture and had developed mild to moderate flabby tissue in the mandibular anterior residual alveolar ridge. While most of the flabby tissue was resolved by physiotherapy, the location of artificial denture teeth in the neutral zone ensured faster denture adaptation of the patient thus producing better compliance. A novel technique of recording and incorporating neutral zone using zinc oxide eugenol impression paste on the occlusal rims have also been described.
Key words: complete denture prosthesis, balanced occlusion, neutral zone, flabby tissue, retention
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