ABSTRACT
Objective@# To explore the application of digital technology in the restoration of partial edentulous patients with microstomia. @*Methods@# A patient with microstomia was presented and seeking for the restoration of her full edentulous in the upper jaw and partial edentulous in the lower jaw (Kennedy Ⅲ). A digital intraoral scanning was used to obtain digital impressions of soft and hard tissues in the oral cavity. Computer aided design and 3D printing technology were used to design and fabricate the metal framework. @* Results @#The patient had no difficulty to wear or take off the dentures. The maxillary and mandibular dentures showed good retention, stability, mastication function and articulation. There was no tenderness in the one week and one month′s follow-up. And the chewing efficiency was satisfactory@*Conclusion@#This case report successfully designed and fabricated mandibular removable partial dentures for patients with microstomia through intraoral scanning and 3D printing technology. Thus, this work provides a new method and idea for treating partial edentulous dentition with microstomia
ABSTRACT
The objective was to compare the adaptation between the major connectors of removable partial dentures derived from intraoral digital impressions and extraoral digital impressions. Twenty-four volunteers were enrolled. Each volunteer received an intraoral digital impression and one extraoral digital impression digitized from conventional gypsum impression. A software was used to create the major connectors on digital impression datasets. After all the virtual major connectors designed from Group intraoral digital impressions (Group I) and Group extraoral digital impressions (Group E) were directly fabricated by 3D printing technique, the adaptation of the final major connectors in volunteers' mouths were measured. The adaptation ranged from 159.87 to 577.99 µm in Group I while from 120.83 to 536.17 µm in Group E. The adaptation of major connectors in Group I were found better at the midline palatine suture while the adaptation of major connectors in Group E were found better at the two sides of the palatal vault. In both groups, the highest accuracy in adaptation was revealed at the anterior margin of the major connectors. It is feasible to manufacture the major connectors by digital impression and 3D printing technique. Both the adaptation of the two kinds of digital impressions were clinical acceptable.
