Once again, digital scanning and its files came to the rescue. The tooth was imaged before any work was started, as well as after the crown prep was completed. Another scan of the partial denture alone was also done and sent with the case. The prescription to the lab was for the lab technicians to copy the original form of the tooth, based on the prerestorative scan. The lab was able to mill a close replica of the original tooth form in zirconia without ever having the partial in the lab to verify the fit. The crown was
delivered, and the partial fit perfectly, again with no adjustments (figures 4 and 5).
Conclusion
Sometimes in dentistry restoration of the dentition may require a stepwise succession of procedures to obtain a functional solution that must remain stable for years. Securing partial dentures in the mouth usually dictates that the clasped teeth be able to handle the additional stress that is placed on them. Restorations on these teeth become the foundation that the final prosthesis depends on to continue its function. Being able to easily and predictably repair or replace these teeth can provide a greater longevity and cost savings for any appliance that a patient already has.
References
1. Kaye G. Does ‘digital dentist’ mean anything today? Dental Economics website. https://www.dentaleconomics.com/articles/print/volume-107/issue-12/science-tech/does-digital-dentist-mean-anything-today.html. Published December 6, 2017.
2. Elsenpeter R. The truth about chairside dentistry. Dental Products Report website. http://www.dentalproductsreport.com/lab/article/truth-about-chairside-dentistry. Published April 17, 2017.
3. Tighe K. Efficient time management and scheduling in your dental practice. DentistryIQ website. https://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2017/07/efficient-time-management-and-scheduling-in-your-dental-practice.html. Published July 11, 2017.
4. Christensen GJ. The all-ceramic restoration dilemma: where are we? J Am Dent Assoc. 2011;142(6):668-671. https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)65571-9/fulltext.
5. Burt D. Copy existing tooth form to retrofit to an RPD accurately: An ideal CAD/CAM application. Dentistry Today website. https://www.dentistrytoday.com/restorative-134/1774—sp-978499547. Published February 1, 2009.
6. Petersen GF, Asmussen E. Distortion of impression materials used in the double-mix technique. Scand J Dent Res. 1991;99(4):343-348.
DAVID BURT, DDS, FICOI, FICD, a 1978 graduate of Temple University School of Dentistry, is in private practice where CAD/CAM, digital scanning, and dental implant/guided surgery are integral to his dentistry. His passion for new and better dental treatment led him to be an early adopter of many of the emerging technologies available today. He has authored numerous articles about digital technology and its application to dentistry.