The new removable denture patient: treatment procedures

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Prosthodontics
• Geriatric Dentistry

Background:

• Increasing patient longevity and improved dental care lead to more patients retaining teeth despite caries and periodontal disease.
• This demographic shift necessitates specialized approaches for removable prosthodontic rehabilitation.
• Current transition procedures may not adequately address the needs of this evolving patient group.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a modified transition procedure for patients requiring removable prostheses.
• To dissociate the surgical and prosthetic phases of treatment for enhanced patient management.
• To incorporate existing teeth into removable prostheses for precise positional replication.

Main Methods:

• A novel procedure for transitioning patients to removable prostheses is detailed.
• The method involves integrating the patient's natural teeth into the removable prosthesis.
• This ensures exact replication of tooth position within the oral cavity.
• The procedure separates the surgical and prosthetic treatment stages.

Main Results:

• The presented method offers a way to adapt current prosthodontic rehabilitation techniques.
• It addresses inadequacies in existing transition procedures.
• The technique minimizes dental chair time required for the procedure.
• Patient acceptance and the transition process remain challenging aspects.

Conclusions:

• A modified, dissociative approach to prosthodontic rehabilitation is feasible.
• Incorporating existing teeth into removable prostheses offers advantages in precision and efficiency.
• Further consideration is needed to optimize the patient experience during this transition.