Written by Andrew Sedler
With the dental industry embracing modern technology, adopting a digital denture workflow is crucial to providing patients with efficient, accurate, and high-quality dental care. This method utilizes digital scanning, computer-aided design, and 3D printing or milling, replacing the traditional labor-intensive process with a more streamlined, precise, and predictable one.
By implementing a digital workflow, dentists can provide enhanced patient comfort, greater satisfaction, faster turnaround times, and a higher level of precision and customization. With this advancement, dental professionals are addressing the increasing demands of modern patients and greatly enhancing their practice’s capabilities and competitive advantage.
The following case study demonstrates the effective implementation and impact of a digital denture workflow in a modern dental practice. We were thrilled to collaborate with Dr. Katherine Diep on this project.
In 2010, a patient suffering from complete tooth loss in both the upper (maxilla) and lower (mandible) jaws needed extensive prosthodontic treatment. A complete denture was created and fitted for her upper jaw. In contrast, her lower jaw was treated with an overdenture supported by locators, incorporating implants placed at the sites of teeth #22 and #27.
Fast-forward to a more recent visit. Her denture teeth exhibited apparent signs of wear, and she had unfortunately experienced implant failure at tooth site #27, prompting the need for a new prosthesis. The silver lining, however, was her satisfaction with her existing denture. This presented the case with an invaluable guide for the design of her new prosthesis.
Recognizing the patient’s comfort and familiarity with the tooth positioning of her existing dentures, Dr. Diep decided to employ a digital denture workflow. This innovative approach ensured that the new set would meticulously echo the contours of the old prosthesis, aligning with the patient’s preferences. It also provided the capacity to readily re-mill the prosthesis if a replacement should ever become necessary in the future.
The comprehensive steps involved in actualizing the final prosthesis through this digital denture workflow enhanced precision ensured patient satisfaction, and streamlined overall process efficiency. These steps, detailed in the subsequent sections, demonstrate the substantial benefits of integrating a digital denture workflow into a modern dental practice.
Integrating digital technology in dentistry is a learning process, and mastering it requires time, patience, and training. However, with the multitude of benefits it offers, it is indeed a worthy investment for the future of any dental practice.
The advent of digital denture workflows presents a transformative shift in dental prosthetics, promising enhanced precision, efficiency, and patient satisfaction. In addition to capturing and reproducing individual dental profiles accurately, digital workflows offer long-term benefits as well. Contact Burbank Dental Lab for help on your next removable case.
We thanks to Dr. Katherine Diep for her valuable insights and contributions to this article.
Dr. Katherine Diep
Burbank Dental Lab implant scan specialist provides the special scan bodies for insertion in the patient’s newly placed implant sites.
Scan Bodies are removed and special healing abutments are placed on the implant sites. Soft tissue can now be scanned with an intra-oral scanner.
The data from both scans are then sent to the laboratory. The ICam4d data and soft tissue scans are aligned to become a high-precision dental model.
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