Unfortunately, many general dental practitioners say they do not enjoy constructing complete d- tures, describing it as something akin to a black-art. In this book, I wanted to describe the practical p- cedures and the science behind many of our actions in the clinic so that successful treatment can be applied to patients. So, surprisingly for a manual, the text is analytical, with a critical discussion of pertinent references to published research. I have sought a balanced approach throughout, avoiding controversy for its own sake. The written text has been reduced to the minimum required to explain the principles and techniques of denture constr- tion. Although this book has been written prima- ly for general dental practitioners, it is hoped that it may also be useful for undergraduate and postgr- uate students. Providing satisfactory complete dentures for patients is demanding work, requiring excellent te- nical, diagnostic and communication skills. If the current epidemiological trends continue, fewer p- ple in the developed world will require complete d- tures, but the complexity of treatment is likely to increase as patients expectations rise. Unfortunately, significant numbers of elderly patients continue to be rendered edentulous late in life when their powers of adaptation to new dentures are much reduced.