Advanced technologies in the denture workflow have marked a new phase in the development of digital dentistry. The surreal combination of digital imaging for dentures and design software is here to open up newer possibilities for the dental community and patients suffering from complex dental issues.
What is Digital Denture
Digital dentures are dental prostheses created digitally using computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technologies. The oral and dental impressions are taken using digital scanning of the mouth, and the dentures are designed, based on these scans, in a computer and then printed using 3D printing technology. They are often called 3D-printed dentures.
Unlike traditional dentures that require multiple appointments and messy impressions, digital dentures streamline the entire process and provide accuracy, precision, efficiency, and a personalized fit.
How Digital Dentures are Made:
Step 1- Intraoral Scanning:
The journey of creating a denture digitally starts with capturing digital impressions of your mouth using intraoral scanners. The high-tech devices involved in this procedure create precise 3D models of your teeth, gums, and surrounding structures, cutting out the need for traditional, messy impressions.
Step 2- Digital Design:
Once the digital impressions are ready, dental professionals use special software to design your dentures. This allows for precise adjustments to tooth arrangement, bite alignment, and overall appearance.
Step 3- Virtual Try-In:
You can preview the design before the dentures are made in a virtual try-in session. This will allow you to check the fit and request any changes before the final fabrication.
Step 4- 3D Printing or Milling:
After approval for the design is obtained, the digital files are sent to a milling machine or 3D printer. The dentures are then created from a block of pre-polymerized material or printed layer by layer using biocompatible resins.
Step 5-Finishing and Polishing:
Once made, the dentures are polished to ensure a smooth surface and comfortable fit. Any necessary tweaks can be made to ensure they fit perfectly.
Step 6-Delivery and Follow-Up:
Finally, the dentures are given to you, and any additional adjustments are made during follow-up appointments to ensure everything is perfect.
How Digital Dentures are Better than Conventional Dentures?
Conventional dentures can be uncomfortable and can also offer limited customization scopes. Also, traditional dentures can take a long time to replace if lost, misplaced or broken.
With the advent of advanced technologies, it became possible to do digital imaging for dentures in a few minutes with maximum comfort for the patient. In the design phase of the workflow, corrections that could previously take hours are now done in ten to fifteen minutes.
In the case of a digital removable prosthesis, the uniformity of the design is very beneficial. With the right software, the dental specialist can provide the clinic with cost-effective 3D-printed dentures within a day. It reduces the overall treatment duration by reducing the number of visits and time spent working with the patient. It is highly helpful in complex cases as well. A 3D-printed treatment is, therefore, a very cost-efficient solution.
Advantages of Digital Dentures
Dentures fabricated digitally provide a precise fit, enhance comfort and stability, and reduce common issues like slippage and discomfort. Digital dentures allow for extensive customization, resulting in natural-looking aesthetics that complement and suit your facial features and smile.
With biocompatible materials and advanced scanning techniques, digital dentures promise greater reliability, durability, and patient satisfaction. In simple words, digital dentures are an advanced alternative to traditional dentures with the following advantages:
- It promises increased comfort and safety
- Provides better bite
- Ensures better fit
- Requires fewer appointments and adjustments
- Involves a quicker replacement process than with conventional dentures
- Provides complete individualization options
- Digital prostheses are stronger than conventional
- Easily duplicated if lost, broken or misplaced
How to Maximize Dental Implant Success with Digital Dentures?
Integrating digital dentures into implant procedures transforms the overall procedure from planning to execution of these surgeries. With the help of advanced software, elite dental professionals can meticulously plan implant placement with minute details to the denture design, ensuring precise positioning based on bone density, anatomical landmarks, and aesthetic considerations. This comprehensive and extensive planning process enhances surgical accuracy by streamlining workflows and eliminating the need for additional procedures.
Cost Considerations: Digital Dentures in India
Digital dentures are comparatively pricey solutions than their traditional counterpart due to the initial investment in digital denture technology.
However, the long-term benefits far outweigh the costs as the digital workflows reduce chair time and labour expenses, resulting in cost savings for both dental practitioners and patients. The precise fit of digital dentures also minimizes the need for further adjustments and replacements, optimizing extra expenses.
In India, the average cost of digital dentures can vary depending on the place, dental clinics, and requirements, such as complete dentures or partial dentures.
Future Scopes
The field of digital dentures is rapidly evolving, with exciting advancements on the horizon:
- Enhanced Materials: Researchers are exploring new materials with better strength, durability, and aesthetics.
- Artificial Intelligence: AI algorithms are being developed to automate aspects of denture design, such as tooth arrangement and bite optimization, making the process even more efficient and less time-consuming.
- Integrated Workflow Solutions: Efforts are underway to create seamless digital workflows that connect intraoral scanning, CAD/CAM design, and 3D printing or milling into one cohesive system, simplifying the process for dental professionals and boosting productivity.
Conclusion:
Digital dentures are a game-changer in the dental world. The dentist and the patient benefit from dental technology advancements, as newer techniques are less invasive and more dependable than those used in the past.
Some procedures previously required multiple office visits, sometimes even appointments with multiple providers. Thanks to advancements in dental technology, many procedures can now be completed in fewer appointments and with the involvement of a single provider.
With advanced technology, dental professionals can provide comfortable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing dentures. As this technology continues to evolve, digital dentures promise to further enhance patient outcomes and revolutionise the future of denture fabrication.
Embrace the future of dentistry with digital dentures and experience a new level of comfort and satisfaction.
Also Read: What is Guided Implant Surgery
FAQs
Digital Dentures use a scientifically proven way to record how your teeth should bite together or how far apart your teeth should be; place your front teeth in the right spot and trace out your bite to put your jaw joints into the correct position. It eliminates all the guesswork of creating traditional dentures.
It’s a faster process than the conventional implant methods. It takes 1-2 days depending about the urgency or practice considering the expedition
Traditional dentures need to be replaced in 5-10 years; digital dentures must be replaced. However, they usually last longer than traditional dentures as the materials used are stronger than traditional dentures.
Digital dentures are the safest and most precise ones customised for you. If you are unsure what to do, visit your nearest dental clinic for more information. To learn more on this check out our website.
References
- Khalili, M., Segal, A.G., & Weinstein, G. (2023). “Clinical guidelines for digital complete denture workflows.” Clinical Dentistry Review, 7, 2.
- Čimić, S., Badel, T., & Ćelić, R. (2022). “Special Issue: Digital Dentures.” Dentistry Journal.
- Chuchulska, B., Barile, G., Capodiferro, S., & Kazakov, S. (2022). “Comparison between Conventional PMMA and 3D Printed Resins for Denture Bases: A Narrative Review.” Journal of Composites Science, 6(3), 87.
- Clark, W.A., Duqum, I., & Kowalski, B.J. (2019). “The digitally replicated denture technique: a case report.” Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry, 31, 20–25.
- Kouveliotis, G., Tasopoulos, T., et al. (2022). “Complete denture digital workflow: combining basic principles with a CAD-CAM approach.” Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 127(4), 550–555.
