Digital technologies have become an integral part of complete denture restoration. With advancement in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), tools such as intraoral scanning, facial scanning, 3D printing, and numerical control machining are reshaping the workflow of complete denture restoration. Unlike conventional methods that rely heavily on clinical experience and manual techniques, digital technologies offer greater precision, predictability, and efficacy. They also streamline the process by reducing the number of patient visits and improving overall comfort. Despite these improvements, the clinical application of digital complete denture restoration still faces challenges that require further standardization. The major issues include appropriate case selection, establishing consistent digital workflows, and evaluating long-term outcomes. To address these challenges and provide clinical guidance for practitioners, this expert consensus outlines the principles, advantages, and limitations of digital complete denture technology. The aim of this review was to offer practical recommendations on indications, clinical procedures and precautions, evaluation metrics, and outcome assessment to support digital restoration of complete denture in clinical practice.
Humans ; Denture, Complete ; Computer-Aided Design ; Denture Design/methods* ; Consensus ; Printing, Three-Dimensional

OBJECTIVE: To verify the consistency between the digital manufacturing simple intraoral Gothic arch-tracing device and the traditional intraoral Gothic arch-tracing device in determining the centric relation of complete dentures restoration. METHODS: Ten outpatients with edentulous jaws were selec-ted, and the centric relation of the patients was determined by digital manufacturing of simple intraoral Gothic arch-tracing device (T1) and traditional intraoral Gothic arch-tracing device (T2); the difference of clinical operation time between the two methods was recorded; the upper and lower edentulous jaw plaster models were scanned with two kinds of centric relation, the Standard Triangle Language (STL) files imported into Geomagic studio software to apply the best fitting of multiple points of the both upper jaw models, the fitted STL files imported into the 3 shape viewer software, and the maximum position deviations of the vertical, labial (buccal) and lingual directions of the mandibular midline area and molar areas in T1 and T2 groups measured. During the clinical complete dentures try-in, we observed whether there was midline deviation in the mouth of T1 group and T2 group, and whether the occlusion of posterior teeth was stable or not. RESULTS: The mean time spent on determining the centric relation of T1 and T2 groups was (41.90±2.64) min, (57.50±2.37) min respectively. Paired t test was conducted in the two groups, P < 0.01 with significant statistical difference; The mean maximum position deviation between T1 group and T2 group of the midline mandibular region in labial lingual direction was (0.32±0.14) mm, that was (0.40±0.23) mm in vertical direction; the mean maximum position deviation of molar area in buccal lingual direction was (0.35±0.23) mm and that was (0.33±0.20) mm in vertical direction. In the vertical and horizontal directions, the maximum position deviation of mandibles between group T1 and group T2 was controlled within 0.5 mm. In the process of clinical complete dentures try-in, there was no deviation from the center line of dentures. There was not warping, swinging and other poor stability phenomena in T1 and T2 groups. CONCLUSION The digital manufacturing of simple intraoral Gothic arch-tracing device can be used to determine the centric relation of complete dentures, which can not only save time of clinical operation, but also ensure the accuracy of the centric relation.
Humans ; Centric Relation ; Jaw Relation Record/methods* ; Denture, Complete ; Mouth, Edentulous ; Jaw, Edentulous

Digital technologies use high-precision three-dimensional scanning, intelligence-aided design software, and multi-axis numerical control milling or 3D printing, which can produce restorations with reliable precision and suitable function. However, the development of digital technologies in the field of complete denture restoration has been slow due to the complexity of prosthesis. This review article introduces the current research status and clinical applications of digital complete dentures in prosthodontic clinics and dental laboratories to provide beneficial references to prosthodontists and dental technicians.
Computer-Aided Design ; Denture, Complete ; Printing, Three-Dimensional

Speech could be used, because it was a neuromuscular movement without teeth contact. The method was stable, however it was used more in vertical relation deciding. More study was needed in the horizontal relation deciding. This article was to explain why and how to use phonetic method to decide jaws relation, through literature review.
Denture Design ; Denture, Complete ; Jaw ; Phonetics

In patients with fully edentulous jaw, treatment of complete dentures should be carried out in many stages when following the conventional methods. Therefore there were disadvantages such as multiple visits to dental clinic is inevitable. In addition, errors caused by polymerization shrinkage, which happens during the fabrication of denture, and difficulties in reproduction of damaged or lost denture were considered as disadvantages. But nowadays, computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system is widely used in dentistry and it has begun to expand its spectrum in manufacturing complete dentures. Using CAD/CAM system to fabricate complete dentures can reduce the number of patient's visit and clinical chair time, since taking impression, recording jaw relation, and selection of artificial teeth are performed at the same time during the first visit, and delivering of dentures during the second visit is possible. In addition, because 3D-Printing technology is used, errors by polymerization shrinkage can be reduced. Among the companies that fabricate complete dentures using CAD/CAM system, DENTCA CAD/CAM denture (DENTCA Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA) is the most commercialized company. In this case, we treated patients of complete dentures using conventional complete denture method and DENTCA CAD/CAM denture system in the same patient. We would like to report this case because we have achieved good results not only in functional aspects of pronunciation, chewing, and swallowing but also in aesthetic aspects.
Computer-Aided Design ; Deglutition ; Dental Clinics ; Dentistry ; Denture, Complete ; Dentures ; Humans ; Jaw ; Jaw, Edentulous ; Mastication ; Methods ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Reproduction ; Tooth, Artificial

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of forward displacement of maxillary complete denture during centric occlusion, three different methods were used to record the changes of vertical overlap and the comfort level of patients before and after the selective grinding of the three dentures made according to maxillo-mandibular horizontal relationship record. METHODS: Twelve edentulous patients with normal stomatognathic system were recruited in this study. Three types of complete dentures for these 12 edentulous patients were made according to their different maxilla-mandibular horizontal relationship record methods. The amount of displacement of the maxillary complete denture, the vertical overlap of the anterior teeth as well as patient comfort level were recorded before and after selective grinding. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 17.0 software package. RESULTS: Before selective grinding, the amount of displacement of denture A was significantly larger than those of dentures B and C (P<0.05). After selective grinding, there was no statistical difference among the three dentures (P>0.05). During selective grinding, the vertical overlap variation of denture A was significantly greater than those of dentures B and C (P<0.05). Before selective grinding, the comfort level of the denture A was the lowest (P<0.05), and no statistical difference was found between dentures B and C (P>0.05). After selective grinding, no statistical difference was found among the three dentures (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Among the complete dentures with anatomical teeth, the dentures whose horizontal relationship was recorded at 1 mm before the apex of the Gothic arch apex and with checkbite are more in line with clinical repair requirements. Complete dentures whose horizontal relationship was recorded at the apex of Gothic arch need to be adjusted with selective grinding to meet the clinical restoration requirements.
Dental Occlusion, Centric ; Denture, Complete ; Humans ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Mouth, Edentulous

OBJECTIVE: To measure the dimensional data of complete dentures and to design a novel tray for recording maxillomandibular relationship of edentulous patients. METHODS: For the measurement, 100 pairs of complete dentures from the clinic were surveyed for the following parameters: a1, the distance between the middle fossa of the upper left and right first molars; a2, the anterior-posterior distance between the middle fossa of the upper first molars and the incisal edge; a3, the width of the upper denture; a4, the anterior-posterior length of the upper denture; a5₁, the height from the mesio-lingual cusp of the right upper first molar to the saddle surface; a5₂, the height from the central fossa of the right lower first molar to the saddle surface; a6, the height from the notch of the upper lip frenulum to the upper central incisor edge; a7, the least thickness of the labial saddle base in the upper central incisor region. Based on the data, the trays with different sizes were designed and fabricated, and the key parameters were: b1, the distance between the foramina of screw posts, b2, the anterior-posterior distance between the foramina of the screw posts and the incisal edge; b3, the width of the tray; b4, the anterior-posterior length of the tray; b5₁, the height of the posterior platform with the screw nut; b5₂, the height of the screw post; b6, the height of the anterior tray handle; b7, the thickness of the anterior tray handle. RESULTS: The minimum, average and maximum data for each parameter were (in millimeter): a1: 37.1, 44.5, and 59.6; a2: 22.6, 29.0, and 38.1; a3: 48.5, 58.2, and 76.6; a4: 37.4, 50.8, and 61.0; a51: 5.6, 9.5, and 14.7; a52: 3.8, 9.9, and 18.8; a6: 8.9, 16.6, and 24.7; a7: 1.2, 2.8, and 5.9. Based on the data, the trays in small, medium and large sizes were designed and fabricated. In clinical application, the putty silicone rubber impression material was used to reline the tray, meanwhile the posterior platform and anterior tray handle were set as the occlusal plane, then the screw posts were added and adjusted till the proper vertical dimension, after that, the putty silicone rubber impression material was added around the screw posts to record the horizontal maxillomandibular relationship, finally, the anterior surface of the tray handle was used to record the midline of the face and lower edge of the upper lip at rest and with smile. CONCLUSION The dimensional data offered reference for the analysis of restoration space in edentulous patients. The tray designed and fabricated in this study may serve as a new tool for recording the maxillomandibular relationship.
Dental Impression Technique ; Denture, Complete ; Humans ; Incisor ; Lip ; Mouth, Edentulous ; Vertical Dimension

Fabrication of conventional complete dentures involves a complex restoration method, requiring significant time and typically involving primary impressions, definitive impressions, jaw relation records, clinic try-in, and complete denture placement, which has been used for nearly a century without change. A novel digital system named Functionally Suitable Denture (FSD) was researched and developed so as to reduce clinical steps, operation difficulties and errors of complete denture restoration. It pioneered a unique diagnostic complete denture aided by computer aided design (CAD) & 3D printing, by which, the functional impression, jaw relation, and try-in (3 steps) were simplified to 1 step, thus the number of visits to the dentist was reduced by 2 times. Moreover, for the first time, it put forward a CAD software of template matching based on the expert design, which was an efficient and intelligent design scheme, and the excellent denture experts' experience and skills could be inherited and iterated. The system included the 3D scanner with appropriate accuracy and high efficiency, the CAD software, the special 3D printer and process software, and the innovative clinical operation process. The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent international search report showed that all the 15 claims of the technology were of novelty, creativity and industrial utility. All the digital products were independently developed and made by Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, China. The design and manufacture process of denture prosthesis was fast, simple and accurate. At the same time, personalized functional and aesthetic matching of the patients after wearing prosthesis was realized. It effectively solved the global problems of "slow, difficult and inaccurate" of the traditional manual technology of complete denture, and brought good news to edentulous patients. Compared with the traditional complete denture treatment, FSD system has a wide range of applications for different types of edentulous patients, including those with severe resorption of the alveolar ridge or a high occlusal force. Furthermore, the low-cost of 3D printers, compared with expensive milling machines, may make the approach more accessible. This review describes that our research is related to the development of the FSD system, including multi-source data acquisition technology, three generations of complete denture design software, 3D printing systems of individual tray and complete denture pattern, the clinical and laboratory operation process of the FSD system.
China ; Computer-Aided Design ; Creativity ; Denture, Complete ; Humans ; Mouth, Edentulous

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of a kind of complete dentures fabricated using computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) workflow with that of the complete denture fabricated using conventional workflow. METHODS: Twenty edentulous patients were included in this prospective, single-blind, self-controlled clinical trial. Two pairs of complete dentures were fabricated for each participant: one using the functional suitable denture (FSD) system with CAD/CAM, and the other using conventional fabrication workflow. In the final delivery appointment, the conventional dentures worn by the participant for 3 months at first. Then the participant swapped to wear digital denture for another 3 months. The patients' satisfaction and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) were measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and oral health impact profile (OHIP-20E) at baseline, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months following denture delivery. In addition, the masticatory efficiency of each pair of dentures was measured after three months adaptation period for each type of dentures. RESULTS: The VAS scores of the twenty patients in FSD denture group on general satisfaction, ease of cleaning, ability to speak, esthetics, stability and oral health status on these six domains were higher than that of conventional denture group 3 months after delivery. While the VAS cores in FSD denture group on comfort, ability to chew and ability to chew up were the same as those of conventional denture group. But there was no significant difference (P>0.05). The VAS score on each domain in FSD denture group was higher than that of conventional denture group 3 months after delivery, three domains of which reached statistical significance (P < 0.05), involving functional limitation, psychological discomfort and total. The masticatory performance of the FSD denture (1.20±0.54) was slightly higher than that for the conventional denture (1.16±0.53), but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P=0.691). CONCLUSIONS The clinical efficacy of the FSD complete denture is comparable to that of the conventional complete denture. As for patient satisfaction and oral health related quality of life, FSD dentures received comparable scores as conventional complete dentures did.
Denture, Complete ; Humans ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Single-Blind Method ; Treatment Outcome

It is difficult to make impression and fabricate conventional dentures for patients with microstomia and flat ridge. This is a case report of 53-year-old female with limited mouth opening (25 mm) who had been wearing denture for 7 years and which was recently broken. Close mouth with suction impression method was used. Proper diagnosis and appropriate set of procedures and methods were needed for this patient. The conventional complete denture fitted with closed mouth method for this condition resulted in retentive and stable denture which was inserted and removed easily.
Microstomia ; Denture, Complete