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A Fully Digital 1-Day Technique for Fabricating Complete Dentures Based on an Existing Denture
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- Digital technology has streamlined and sped up the prosthetic fabrication process. Specific to complete dentures, most digital workflows still require some kind of a try-in visit. This case study integrated facial scan and virtual tooth try-in in combination with the CAD–CAM technology, allowing clinicians to fabricate a digital complete denture in 1 day. This process will likely be further developed in the near future.
- In the near future, digital technology, including facial scanning and virtual treatment planning, may pave the way for 1-day complete denture fabrication.
abstract
This abstract is available on the publisher's site.
Access this abstract now Full Text Available for ClinicalKey SubscribersThis technical report describes a fully digital workflow for the design and fabrication of removable complete dentures in a single day. This technique integrates facial and intraoral scans, uses a computer-aided design software program to modify the orientation of the maxillary occlusal plane in the sagittal and frontal planes and evaluate the esthetics and finally produces complete dentures with a clinically acceptable design, simplifying the clinical workflow.
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A fully digital 1-day technique for fabricating complete dentures based on an existing denture
J Prosthet Dent 2023 Mar 13;[EPub Ahead of Print], S Zhang, Y Lin, W Chen, J ChenFrom MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
There is no doubt that dentistry is entering a new renaissance. Today's dental care surpasses that of prior decades, dispelling any notions of a bygone "golden age." This is particularly evident in removable prosthodontics.
Thanks to cutting-edge digital technology, we can now create prostheses with unparalleled fit and durability. Even more heartening is that creative digital workflows are emerging that are rooted in time-honored, consensus-based concepts.
No matter how simple or complex a denture fabrication method may be, a successful denture relies on seven essential criteria: providing final impressions, identifying the midline, establishing the incisal edge location, determining the anterior tooth size, creating a proper lip support, capturing the centric relation, and measuring the occlusal vertical dimension. This applies to CAD/CAM complete dentures as well.
Sihui Zhang's latest paper showcases innovative thinking rooted in the foundational principles of prosthodontics, focusing on the creation of traditional tissue-borne dentures for patients. An intraoral scanner is used to scan the patient's current dentures, a technique frequently utilized in various three-appointment workflows. By combining a scan of the patient's maxillary anterior dentition, perioral tissues, and nose, the ability to gather previously inaccessible data for dental technicians is unlocked. Additionally, incorporating data from a facial scan captured by a mobile phone enables the designer to utilize more anatomic landmarks when designing the denture. With today's technology, all of these techniques are within the realm of possibility for a modern dentist.
In the paper, a few concepts may be unsatisfactory for many denture makers. Zhang's technique does not provide a way for patients to approve a physical mockup of the new denture setup. This may be acceptable when only minor changes are made from the patient’s previous denture, but it would be beneficial to seek the patient's approval if significant changes are made to the occlusal plane, midline, or tooth arrangement.
Furthermore, Zhang stated that the denture was printed and finalized within a 2-hour time frame. It is essential to ensure that the fabrication methods used result in a definitive prosthesis with strength and durability comparable to those achieved with polymethyl methacrylate. At this point, clinicians must exercise caution when selecting both the fabrication method and materials used when prescribing a printed prosthesis.
Sihui Zhang deserves praise for introducing a modern technique that rapidly produces a definitive prosthesis. Time is crucial in today's clinical practices, and any workflow that optimizes the denture fabrication process is welcomed by the profession.