Which of the following can prolong soreness in a tooth after starting to wear a removable partial denture?

The correct response highlights how insufficient or poorly designed rest seat contours can complicate the adaptation period for a patient wearing a removable partial denture. Rest seats are designed to distribute occlusal forces evenly and minimize stress on the abutment teeth. If these contours are not adequately formed, they may create inappropriate pressure points on the underlying tissues or tooth structures.

This can lead to heightened discomfort or soreness as the patient adjusts to the new prosthetic device. Proper rest seat design helps ensure that the denture fits properly and minimizes the risk of irritation or injury to the gums and supporting structures. Thus, the failure to create well-contoured rest seats can extend the period of discomfort, making it a critical factor in the management of soreness associated with a removable partial denture.

In contrast, normal tissue adaptation is typically expected as patients adjust to the presence of a partial denture, and underlying periodontal disease, although it can cause discomfort, is not directly related to the design and function of the removable partial denture itself. Excessive adjustment of the denture may lead to other issues, but it is not as fundamentally related to the design specifics like rest seat contours are.