Dentists use one of two primary methods to create dentures: traditional and digital. The traditional process involves using impressions of a patient’s teeth made in a soft material to reconstruct the mouth inside and determine the shape of the dentures. A technician carves wax and sets placeholder teeth while holding the impression in an articulator, a mechanical analog for the jaw, resulting in an approximation of the patient’s mouth shape. One or more fittings provide data for refining the dentures’ shape until the patient receives the final acrylic version.
The digital process has fewer steps and relies on manufacturing technologies. An intramouth scanner captures 3D images of the patient’s mouth, teeth placement, and gum structure. Specialized software allows viewing of these images from all angles. Computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing use additive manufacturing to create the rough draft of the dentures. The precision of these techniques enables a patient to undergo fewer fittings and receive their dentures faster.
Dr. Roderick Garcia DMD's Blog 