Overview: This article outlines the clinical workflow for implant-supported locator overdentures when patients lack existing dentition or appliances to establish the Vertical Dimension of Occlusion (VDO). This process requires a chairside pickup and applies to patients who do not require extractions or surgery.
Prerequisites
Verify the patient has no existing dentition or appliance to establish VDO.
Confirm the treatment plan does not require extractions or active surgery.
Ensure Lucitone Digital Print Denture materials are available for pick-up for appointment #3.
Execute Case Setup Scan (Appointment 1)
Practitioners must establish the digital foundation for the overdenture during the first appointment.
Configure Chairside Software
Open the Chairside application and select Start.
Choose Denture and select the specific denture type.
Indicate the patient does not have an existing appliance.
Select Yes to confirm the restoration is implant-supported.
Identify the preferred arch or arches for the restoration.
Record Clinical Data
Alternative Impression: If digital scanning is difficult, take a standard physical impression and scan the model or impression.
Design and Measurements: Select the desired design, record all abutment heights, and register the initial bite.
Scan Wax Bite Rim (Appointment 2)
The second appointment focuses on refining the bite registration and capturing patient aesthetics.
Prepare the Wax Rim
Guide the Dandy-provided wax bite rim into the patient’s mouth to capture an accurate bite impression.
Apply a light body wash to the wax bite rim for precise border molding.
Mark the wax bite rim clearly with smile lines, canine lines, and midlines.
Apply bite registration material (such as blue mousse) to register the final bite.
Capture Clinical Photos
Dandy highly recommends taking the following photos with the wax bite rim in place:
Frontal: One head-on photo of the patient smiling naturally.
Profile: Two profile pictures (one from each side) of the patient smiling naturally.
Retracted: If possible, one head-on photo with cheek retractors in place.
Perform Scan Process
Select Removables > Full Dentures > Printed/Milled on the scanner order form.
Select Denture from the pop-up menu when scanning arches with wax bite rims.
Complete a 360-degree extraoral scan of the wax bite rims with the light body wash.
For Single Arch: Scan the wax rim in the patient's mouth from molar to midline using bite registration material.
For Dual Arch: Scan both arches in occlusion outside of the mouth (full arch from molar to molar) with registration material.
Perform Chairside Pickup (Appointment 3)
The final appointment involves the physical placement and attachment of the overdenture.
Prepare Locator Abutments
Remove implant healing caps and seat the locator abutments.
Verify that abutments sit above the soft tissue.
Place blockout spacers onto the abutments.
Seat denture housings with black nylons onto each abutment.
Confirm the prosthesis fits passively over the housings; use PIP paste and a carbide bur to reduce material if interference occurs.
Attach the Overdenture
Thoroughly dry and clean the denture to ensure the pick-up material bonds correctly.
Place auto-polymerizing material inside the denture reliefs.
Guide the denture into the mouth and ensure the denture is fully seated.
Instruct the patient to close into their natural bite and wait for polymerization to complete.
Remove the denture and fill any remaining voids around the abutments with additional material.
Clean excess material from intaglio or lingual areas with a carbide bur and polish for a smooth finish.
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