The Denture Review Notes Template

Denture review notes that record "adjusted, comfortable" without specifying what was adjusted are the source of progressive instability complaints. Below is a template for UK clinicians to paste into their PMS for every denture review.

Why this denture review template wins

• Patient subjective report structured — comfort / function / speech / aesthetics — captures the patient experience holistically.
• Soft tissue exam with specific sites — ulceration and stomatitis are common, documented exam prevents missed issues.
• Adjustments recorded SPECIFICALLY (which cusp, what bur, what depth) — defends against progressive instability complaints.
• Retention / stability comparison to fit visit — tracks adaptation.
• Polish after adjustment confirmed — rough adjusted surfaces cause new ulcers if not polished.

The template (paste into your PMS notes field)

Paste the denture review template below into your PMS notes field. Patient demographics are left out because your PMS already holds them.

DENTURE: [Complete upper / complete lower / both / RPD upper / RPD lower]
TIME SINCE FIT: [Days / weeks]
PREVIOUS REVIEW: [None — first review / __ weeks ago]

PATIENT SUBJECTIVE REPORT:
- Comfort: [Comfortable / sore — sites / general soreness]
- Function: [Eating well / difficulty with — specify foods / chewing improved vs old denture]
- Speech: [Normal / temporarily altered (improving) / persistent issue]
- Aesthetics: [Pleased / specific concerns]
- Adhesive use: [None / occasional / regular]

SOFT TISSUE EXAMINATION (with denture out):
- Pressure areas / ulcers: [None / sites + severity — peripheral / occlusal / fit surface]
- Stomatitis: [None / Newton grade I / II / III]
- Hyperplasia: [None / sulcus / interproximal]
- Frenal trauma: [None / labial / buccal / lingual]
- Tongue: [Normal / candidal / coated]

OCCLUSAL CHECK:
- Settlement: [Even contacts / new interferences identified]
- Adjustments made: [Specific sites — e.g. "UL6 distopalatal cusp relieved", "LR5 buccal cusp adjusted"]
- Articulating paper: [Used — final occlusion balanced]

RETENTION / STABILITY RE-ASSESSMENT:
- Retention: [Improved (tissues adapted) / similar / declined]
- Stability: [Stable in function / shows movement on chewing]
- Peripheral seal: [Adequate / compromised]

ADJUSTMENTS:
- Fit surface relief: [Sites / extent]
- Peripheral extension: [Reduced / extended]
- Occlusal: [As above]
- Polish after adjustment: [Confirmed]

ADVICE GIVEN: [Continued adaptation / OH reinforcement / dietary]

FOLLOW-UP:
- Further review needed: [Y/N — interval]
- Discharge to annual recall: [Y/N]

Try the denture review note in the live demo → No account needed.

What good looks like — a worked example

The same denture review template, completed for a realistic case.

DENTURE: Complete upper + complete lower
TIME SINCE FIT: 1 week
PREVIOUS REVIEW: First review

PATIENT SUBJECTIVE REPORT:
- Comfort: Mostly comfortable. Slight soreness on lower right where she's been chewing harder foods.
- Function: Eating well overall. Started with soft diet, now eating most foods. Hard apple still difficult.
- Speech: Temporarily different first 2-3 days but now back to normal. No s/sh issues.
- Aesthetics: Very pleased. Family commented positively. Confident smiling.
- Adhesive use: None. Not needed.

SOFT TISSUE EXAMINATION (denture out):
- Pressure areas: One small (~2mm) area of redness on right lower retromolar pad area. No ulceration. Likely from increased chewing on right side.
- Stomatitis: None.
- Hyperplasia: None.
- Frenal trauma: None.
- Tongue: Normal. No candidal change.

OCCLUSAL CHECK:
- Settlement: Generally even. Slight premature contact identified on LR5 buccal cusp (correlates with right-sided soreness).
- Adjustments made: LR5 buccal cusp relieved with fine football diamond, ~0.3mm.
- Articulating paper: Used post-adjustment — final occlusion balanced and even bilaterally.

RETENTION / STABILITY:
- Retention: Improved — tissues now well-adapted to denture. Upper suction excellent.
- Stability: Stable in function on chewing test.
- Peripheral seal: Adequate.

ADJUSTMENTS:
- Fit surface relief: Small relief at right lower retromolar area (correlating with soreness) — minimal acrylic removed with bur, polished.
- Peripheral extension: No adjustment needed.
- Occlusal: As above (LR5).
- Polish after adjustment: Confirmed — smooth surface restored.

ADVICE: Continued adaptation will result in further comfort improvements. OH reinforced — denture brush + Polident cleaner + leave out overnight. Continue normal diet, avoid very hard foods another week.

FOLLOW-UP:
- Further review needed: 4-week interval (1-month review)
- Discharge to annual recall: After 1-month review if comfortable.

Compliance: the medico-legal angle

• BSSPD Guidelines in Prosthetic Dentistry.
• GDC Principle 4 — post-fit reviews are part of the complete prosthodontic record.
• Indemnity defence — denture complaints often allege "they didn't check / didn't adjust" — documented review with specific adjustments is the defence.

Common documentation mistakes

• "Adjusted, comfortable" with no specifics — indefensible if later issues.
• No soft tissue exam with denture out — stomatitis and ulceration missed.
• No polish after adjustment recorded — rough acrylic surface causes new ulceration.
• No subjective patient report — captures only clinician findings, misses functional complaints.
• No follow-up scheduled — patients adapt to bad fit, develop chronic complaints.

Sources

• GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 4: Maintain and protect patients’ information (accessed 18 October 2026)

Frequently asked questions

Patient leaflets for this treatment

• Your Guide to Dentures
• Conventional Dentures vs Implant-Retained Dentures — Your Options

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Browse the full set of free dental notes templates.