Two-visit placement of immediate dentures with the aid of digital technologies

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW: In this report, the authors describe a combined digital and conventional work flow that enabled placement of immediate dentures in 2 patient visits.

CASE DESCRIPTION: Digital intraoral impressions and interarch relationship were obtained with an intraoral scanner during the first visit. The residual teeth from the digital intraoral impressions were removed, and a series of modules were used to design trial denture base and occlusal rim assemblies. The assemblies of both arches were fabricated with a 3-dimensional printer and resin material. Dental stone was poured into the intaglio of each assembly to fabricate dental casts. The assemblies and their corresponding dental casts were mounted on the articulator. The portion of the resin occlusal rim was removed, and the artificial teeth were arranged in an alternating manner; the immediate dentures were processed via conventional protocols. During the second visit, these immediate dentures were placed after extraction and relined with a denture relining material.

CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Advances in digital technologies have enabled the establishment of treatment plans that would not have been considered previously. The combination of digital and conventional work flow in fabricating immediate dentures has eliminated the risk of experiencing unintentional tooth extraction during impression-making procedures, reduced the number of patient visits for the placement of immediate dentures, and resulted in satisfactory esthetic and functional outcomes.