An easy transition from conventional to digital dentures for an edentulous patient: a case report

The edentulous population is increasing globally regardless of the advancement in dental materials and technology. Computer-engineered complete dentures can significantly reduce clinical time, provide better patient satisfaction, and enable digital record archiving. A patient's existing denture provides useful information for the fabrication of new dentures. An examination checklist can be used to ensure a methodical evaluation of the patient's oral conditions and existing dentures and guide the clinician in deciding whether to continue treatment or refer the patient to a specialist. Once the decision is made to continue treatment, the clinician can duplicate the patient's existing dentures and make necessary corrections. The corrected duplicates can then be used as custom trays and record bases and sent to a laboratory for digital design and fabrication of new dentures. This case report describes the replacement of 30-year-old, ill-fitting dentures with digitally designed and milled prostheses that restored the vertical dimension of occlusion, masticatory function, and esthetics. In addition, an examination checklist to aid in treatment planning is offered.