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Reducing Treatment Time
with Digital Dentistry
by
Dean H. Saiki, DDS and
Grant Bullis, Director of Implant R&D and Digital Manufacturing
Edentulous patients with loose and ill-fitting mandibular dentures are
a common sight in the dental office. Often, the maxillary denture fits
well, but the deficient fit of the lower denture limits these patients’
ability to chew certain foods. Even with periodic relines, persistent
soreness makes it difficult for these patients to wear their lower
denture on a regular basis.
provisional fixed denture supported by
four implants. The final fixed restoration
would be delivered after the implants
were fully integrated. The provisional
restoration was designed based on the
patient’s existing, approved esthetics,
occlusion and vertical dimension of occlusion
(VDO).
Case Description
A 72-year-old female patient complained
of a loose lower denture that
was painful to wear and chew with.
A routine examination revealed a pronounced
lack of bone volume in the
lower ridge in conjunction with a relatively
high floor of the mouth, making
relines ineffective in resolving the patient’s
chief complaint.
After a comprehensive examination, including
cone beam computed tomography
(CBCT) imaging, and an in-depth
consultation with the patient, her family
and her physician, the decision was
made to proceed with a screw-retained,
The restorative protocol for this case
used state-of-the-art techniques to
improve the accuracy of implant
placement, optimize the function and
esthetics of the provisional, and reduce
the time required for treatment.
The diagnosis, treatment planning,
surgery, provisional denture and final
restorative steps of her treatment plan
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