Digital denture workflow for a fully edentulous patient

The tedious task of fabricating full dentures can now be avoided thanks to the astounding developments in digital technology. With streamlined workflows, clinicians and lab technicians can work more efficiently and effectively – benefitting the patient the most.

By Denturist Eric Kukucka

A fully edentulous male patient was in need of a new set of dentures. The patient’s dentition became terminal due to a past drug addiction. He has been rehabilitated with numerous sets of conventional dentures previously.

The following demonstrates the utilisation of a digital workflow to fabricate the patient’s new digital dentures:

Fig. 1: Initial situation of the patient demonstrating the edentulous ridges

Fig. 2: A centric tray (Ivoclar Vivadent) was utilised to establish a preliminary vertical dimension of occlusion and centric relation

Fig. 3: The UTS CAD (Ivoclar Vivadent) was utilised to establish the BiPupilary Line and Campers plane

Fig. 4: Preliminary impressions were taken utilising Accudent XD Material and the centric tray was shown in this figure. These constitute the initial records required for digital denture professionals

Fig. 5: The centric tray was scanned utilising the impression fixture (3Shape E Series lab scanner)

Fig. 6: Maxillary and mandibular centric tray scanned in 3Shape software

Fig. 7: The maxillary and mandibular impressions were scanned utilising the impression fixture in 3Shape (E Series) lab scanner\

Fig. 8: The maxillary and mandibular impressions were aligned into the centric tray intaglio surface

Fig. 9: The maxillary and mandibular impressions were now trimmed to create preliminary casts. The third image represents the maxillary and mandibular impressions articulated with the UTS CAD in place

Fig. 10: The design process of the 3D BITE PLATE/Gnathometer CAD (Gothic arch tracing device) was carried out and the manufacturing process utilising the ProArt CAD try-in

Continue reading here. Published in Dental Asia January/February 2022 issue.

About the author

Eric D. Kukucka, DD, is a practicing denturist and alpha and beta tester for major industry development in digital denture technology. He is the president of The Denture Center (Canada) and key opinion leader for Ivoclar Vivadent, 3Shape, and Nobel Biocare. A member of 3shape Advisory Board (Copenhagen, Denmark), Mr Kukucka has given over 62 keynote/ virtual presentations in nine countries and two languages, and has authored over 26 published articles. He is also a faculty member of the Digital Dentistry Institute and a member of various international and local digital denture associations. Mr Kukucka trained under Dr Jiro Abe in Tokyo, Japan, on the SEMCD (Suction Effective Mandibular Complete Denture) concept and became the 32nd global instructor.