Complete Denture from Existing Workflow

The following workflow applies to patients using an existing denture to establish their VDO and/or bite. 

Clinical Scenarios 

1. Fabricating a new denture using a current full or partial denture as a reference.
2. Relining and/or making an exact copy of a current denture. 

The outline below is a step-by-step appointment guide for our complete denture from an existing (reference / copy) workflow. Please be sure to review our scanning guides before proceeding:

• Complete Denture Scanning Best Practices
• Recommended Scan Paths for Complete Dentures
• Preparing a Denture for Scanning
• Extraoral 360° Scan Technique

Extraoral Scan Prep 

• Remove the denture and apply light body wash (avoid excess material).
• Place the denture in the patient’s mouth, have the patient move lips and tongue side to side, and gently push down on the denture.
  • Let the denture sit while the impression material sets.
• Remove and trim off any excess impression material, especially on the occlusal surface.
• Make any necessary adjustments to the existing denture to ensure fit and correct VDO.
  • If teeth are significantly worn down, use blue mousse to fill the bite on the occlusal surface to verify that the VDO is correct.

Photographs Needed

• Take photos of the patient [highly recommended]: 
  • A head on photo with the patient smiling naturally (wearing dentures).
  • 2 profile pictures (1 from each side) with the patient smiling naturally (wearing dentures).
  • [If possible] A head on photo of the patient with cheek retractors in place (wearing dentures). 

Scans Required

If you are fabricating a single-arch denture, you will need the following scans:

• 360° extraoral scan of existing (reference) denture
• Intraoral scan of opposing
• Register bite via intraoral bite scan (from molar to midline) with blue mousse 

If you are fabricating dual arch dentures, you will need the following scans:

• 360° extraoral scan of existing (reference) denture
• Register bite via intraoral bite scan (from molar to midline) with blue mousse 

Extraoral Scanning Steps 

Fabricating Lower Arch Denture - 360° Scan Lower (Extraoral) 

• On the scan page, select “Denture” for the lower jaw.
• Start scanning from the retromolar area and proceed along the buccal to the other side
  • Be sure to roll slightly over the incisal edges of the anterior teeth.
• Move over to the lingual, and scan across to the other side.
  • Pause and let the software process.
• Begin on the buccal and scan full across to the other side of the arch.
• Scan the buccal border with the scanner looking straight down at it and rock the scanner back and forth to capture a portion of both the exterior and interior of the appliance.
• At the end, scan slightly over to the intaglio surface of the denture. This will be your “reference point.”
  • Pause the scanner and let it process scanning data.
• Commence on that same “reference” point, and begin scanning the lingual, capturing the entire interior.
• If while scanning, the scanner loses its spot, pause and begin on the closest reference point.
• Inspect the scan & trim any unwanted parts (i.e. gloves, excess layers, etc.). Simply scan again if any area is missing. 

Fabricating Upper Arch Denture - 360° Scan Upper (Extraoral) 

• Select “Denture.”
• Start from the occlusal on one side, and move along to the other side. Again, slightly roll over the incisal edges of the anterior teeth. 
• Move over to the lingual, and scan all the way across.
  • Pause and let the scanner process scanning data.
• Starting at the midline, capture the entire palate in a side-to-side motion
• Then in one motion at the last molar, move over the occlusal to the buccal and scan across to the other side.
• Very intentionally scan the buccal border with the scanner looking straight down at it.
  • Rock the scanner back and forth to capture a portion of both the exterior and interior of the appliance.
• Before pausing one more time, move the scanner over to the intaglio surface to capture a “reference point.” 
  • Pause and let the scanner process scanning data.
• Resume at the reference point and scan the intaglio, side by side and then along the ridges.
• Similar to before, trim any excess material and re-scan any missing areas. 

Bite Scan 

• Place denture(s) back into the patient’s mouth, and scan the bite in the patient’s mouth from molar to midline (ignore the confirmation sound).
  • If blue mousse is needed for worn-down denture teeth, scan the bite with the blue mousse in place.