Chairside 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 (or preferred bite registration material) 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 (or preferred bite registration material)

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 (or preferred bite registration material)

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 (or preferred bite registration material) is needed for worn-down denture teeth, scan the bite with the blue mousse (or preferred bite registration material) in place.