Complete denture fabrication with CAD/CAM technology: a case report

Demographers agree that the so-called elderly population will increase steadily in the future. Not only will their numbers increase, but they will live to an older age. In the case of fully edentulous patients, implant treatment is a possibility, but for many, rehabilitation by means of full removable dentures is still the preferred option. In recent decades, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) has brought about what can only be described as a revolution in dental offices and dental laboratories. CAD/CAM has many areas of application, and these are constantly increasing. In response to the growing demand from users, CAD/CAM can now produce sets of complete removable dentures using a virtual design and fabrication process. A protocol for a new CAD/CAM-supported method is presented here in a clinical case report. Laboratory procedures are simplified because a number of the conventional steps have now disappeared. Today, it is possible to design the shape of the teeth for each patient, which results in a better customization of the dentures. Combined with appropriate staining of the teeth and denture base, this method produces full removable dentures that integrate very well into the patient's face to ensure a good esthetic result.