Diagnosis and Treatment Planning for Complete Removable Prostheses. What has changed?

Webinar Coordinator:
Prof. Phophi Kamposiora,
EPA Immediate Past President

Abstract:
Considering the diagnosis of complete edentulism, it is evident that the key elements remain unchanged. However, the treatment planning has evolved significantly if one considers the incorporation of osseointegration into decision making. Implant supported prostheses extending from a two-implant retained overdenture in the edentulous mandible to more complex overdenture solutions and ultimately in full mouth implant retained fixed prostheses have been successful alternatives to complete removable prostheses.
The aging of the population due to the increased life expectancy still dictates the increased need for conventional complete removable prostheses. A significant innovation in the field of complete removable prostheses is the incorporation of digital technologies that have been introduced during the last decade. Procedures such as digitizing final impressions or master-casts, and computer aided designing and computer aided manufacturing of complete removable prostheses have already been used in prosthodontics.
The latest development of intraoral scanning of the edentulous tissues has provided the opportunity of a complete digital protocol to replace time consuming traditional complete denture fabrication procedures. This evolution creates a new era in treatment planning for complete removable prostheses.