Computer-aided designing and manufacturing of partial removable dentures

Purpose: The goal of this article is to present the developed methodology of computer-aided designing and manufacturing of removable partial dentures on the example of the free-end situation in the mandible. Design/methodology/approach: The method of designing and manufacturing of removable partial dentures was developed on the basis of real clinical data coming from a patient with a free-end situation in the mandible. The method is focused on completely virtual designing of the partial dentures made of titanium and chrome-cobalt alloys covered with aesthetic acrylic material. Findings: The CAD/CAM produced prosthesis adheres tightly to the tissue improving its stability, retention and evenly transferring loads on the tissue, causing less interference in the oral mucosa. Research limitations/implications: The development of the precise design procedures, including CAD/CAM, for fabrication of partial dentures is justified because there is still a large group of patients who would benefit from improving the accuracy of these solutions. Practical implications: The development of the precise design procedures, including CAD/CAM, for fabrication of partial dentures is justified because there is still a large group of patients who would benefit from improving the accuracy of these solutions. Originality/value: This paper presents an original method of designing and manufacturing of removable partial dentures. This allows for precise planning of the shape of the denture frame in relation to individual anatomy of the teeth and the soft tissue of the oral cavity. The execution of the CAD/CAM technology allows to avoid changes of the volume and shape of the prosthesis that is very common in conventional manufacturing procedures.