A Hybrid Digital Workflow for Complete Removable Dentures: A Three-Session Protocol for the Edentulous Patient - A...

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Prosthodontics
• Digital Dentistry

Background:

• Elderly edentulous patients often face challenges with conventional complete removable denture (CRD) fabrication.
• Minimizing clinical appointments is crucial for patient comfort and compliance in geriatric dental care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a hybrid digital protocol for fabricating bimaxillary complete removable dentures (CRDs) in an elderly, fully edentulous patient.
• To assess the feasibility of reducing clinical appointments while maintaining functional, esthetic, and durable outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A three-appointment hybrid workflow involving digital intraoral and facial scans for vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) and centric relation (CR) determination.
• Secondary impressions using polyether, refinement of intermaxillary relationships with the Gnathometer system, and digitization of all records.
• Virtual design and milling of monolithic poly(methyl methacrylate) dentures (Ivotion).

Main Results:

• The hybrid protocol facilitated precise data capture and significantly reduced treatment time.
• Delivered prostheses exhibited excellent fit, retention, stability, and occlusion, requiring no adjustments.
• The patient reported high satisfaction with the comfort and efficiency of the digital denture process.

Conclusions:

• A hybrid digital protocol presents a promising alternative for prosthetic rehabilitation in edentulous elderly patients, especially when chair time reduction is a priority.
• Further large-scale studies are necessary to validate these findings for broader clinical application.