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Modern partial dentures - part 1: novel manufacturing techniques

British Dental Journal volume 230, pages 651–657 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

While the conventional fabrication of removal partial dentures through the lost-wax technique is a time-tested technique, it is recognised as a 'complicated, error-prone, time-consuming and expensive process'. This has financial implications and can lead to increased chair time for the patient and dentist, resulting from low precision and ill-fitting frameworks. The use of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture brings removable prosthodontics into the digital era and opens up a host of benefits to the practitioner and laboratory technician. This paper introduces the benefits and downsides to adopting a digital workflow, and looks at the various alternative manufacturing techniques, which allow the clinician and technician to streamline their processes and make use of novel denture materials.

Key points

  • CAD-CAM systems are increasingly being adopted in the design and fabrication of removable prostheses.

  • The digital workflow is more time-efficient, can eliminate technique sensitivity and allows for easier collaborative discussions between patient, clinician and technician.

  • Computer-aided manufacture allows for the introduction of newer materials with advantageous properties when compared to traditional materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leeds Dental Institute, The Worsley Building, Clarendon Way, LS2 9LU, UK

    Olivia Barraclough, David Gray, Zaid Ali & Brian Nattress

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  1. Olivia Barraclough
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  2. David Gray
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  3. Zaid Ali
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  4. Brian Nattress
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Contributions

Dr Olivia Barraclough, Dr David Gray, Dr Zaid Ali and Professor Brian Nattress have all equally contributed to writing and editing this manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olivia Barraclough.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Barraclough, O., Gray, D., Ali, Z. et al. Modern partial dentures - part 1: novel manufacturing techniques. Br Dent J 230, 651–657 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-021-3070-4

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