The Hollow Maxillary Complete Denture: A Simple, Precise, Single-Flask Technique Using a Caramel Spacer.

Area of Science:

• Dental Prosthetics
• Biomaterials Science
• Removable Denture Technology

Background:

• Removable prostheses success relies on retention, stability, support, esthetics, and function.
• Increased inter-arch distance can lead to heavier prostheses, compromising retention and resistance.
• Minimizing prosthesis weight is crucial for patient comfort and clinical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a simple, precise single-flask technique for fabricating lightweight maxillary prostheses.
• To utilize caramel as an innovative 3D spacer material for weight reduction.
• To ensure uniform acrylic thickness around the hollow cavity for structural integrity.

Main Methods:

• A novel single-flask fabrication technique was developed.
• Caramel was employed as a three-dimensional (3D) spacer within the prosthesis mold.
• The technique involved 'indexing' to achieve uniform acrylic thickness around the internal hollow space.

Main Results:

• The described technique successfully produced a lightweight maxillary prosthesis.
• The use of caramel as a 3D spacer effectively reduced the overall weight.
• The 'indexed' single-flask method ensured consistent acrylic distribution, maintaining structural integrity.

Conclusions:

• This technique offers a simple and precise method for fabricating lightweight removable maxillary prostheses.
• Caramel serves as an effective and accessible material for creating hollow spaces, reducing prosthesis weight.
• The single-flask approach with caramel indexing is a viable option for improving prosthesis retention and patient satisfaction.