Implant-retained overdenture delivery in 2 visits with a digital workflow

Area of Science:

• Dental prosthetics
• Digital dentistry
• Implantology

Background:

• Conventional fabrication of implant-retained overdentures is time-consuming, requiring multiple patient visits.
• Improving patient satisfaction and reducing treatment time are key goals in prosthetic dentistry.

Observation:

• A 78-year-old patient's existing maxillary implant-retained overdenture was replaced using a digital workflow.
• Intraoral scanning of the existing denture and facial structures was performed during the initial visit.

Findings:

• A virtual maxillary cast was created by inverting the scanned intaglio image.
• A metal framework for the replacement overdenture was fabricated using the digital cast.
• Prefabricated teeth were arranged on a 3D-printed trial denture derived from scan data.
• The final implant-retained overdenture was fabricated using injection molding onto the metal framework.

Implications:

• Digital duplication of implant-retained overdentures streamlines the fabrication process.
• This digital technique allows for the delivery of a stable and esthetic implant-retained overdenture in only two patient visits.
• Reduced treatment time and potentially increased patient satisfaction are significant benefits of this approach.