Development of a digital impression procedure using photogrammetry for complete denture fabrication.

Objectives: We developed an innovative procedure for digitizing maxillary edentulous residual ridges with a photogrammetric system capable of estimating three-dimensional (3D) digital forms from multiple two-dimensional (2D) digital images. The aim of this study was to validate the effectiveness of the photogrammetric system.

Materials And Methods: Impressions of the maxillary residual ridges of five edentulous patients were taken with four kinds of procedures: three conventional impression procedures and the photogrammetric system.

Digital assessment of preliminary impression accuracy for edentulous jaws: Comparisons of 3-dimensional surfaces between study and working casts.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare 3-dimensional surfaces of study and working casts for edentulous jaws and to evaluate the accuracy of preliminary impressions with a view to the future application of digital dentistry for edentulous jaws.

Methods: Forty edentulous volunteers were serially recruited. Nine dentists took preliminary and final impressions in a routine clinical work-up.

Part-Digitizing System of Impression and Interocclusal Record for Complete Denture Fabrication.

Few studies have reported the application of digital technology to removable dentures, particularly for the process of impression and interocclusal recording for complete denture fabrication. This article describes a part-digitizing system of impression and interocclusal records for complete denture fabrication. The denture foundation area in an edentulous mouth, including the border areas and residual ridge, is outlined by tracing the surfaces with a 3-D pen-type digitizer.

Recording of individual identification information on dental prostheses using fluorescent material and ultraviolet light.

The placement of individual identification on a prosthesis is very important for forensic dentistry and traceability. This article describes the unique naming/labeling of dentures with information for individual identification using a method in which information is invisible under natural light but visible under ultraviolet light-emitting diode/black light exposure. The use of laser beam machining with this method will enable the recording of a large amount of information.

A new method to prevent the corrosion of dental metals, during disinfection using functional water: sacrificial protection.

Purpose: This paper demonstrates a simple method using sacrificial protection for preventing the corrosion of dental metals.

Methods: Dental metals are directly connected or/and wound with a pure commercial aluminum/zinc wire/plate with high ionization tendency, before their immersion into oxidizing functional water.

Conclusion: Dental materials such as Co-Cr alloy wires, stainless steel, and Au-Ag-Pd alloys did not corrode when this method was used.

Installing magnetic keepers using LASER welding.

Magnetic overdenture attachments can provide useful denture retention. A technique is proposed that involves installing the magnetic keeper in the overdenture abutment coping using laser welding. Compared with the conventional cast-to technique, the new technique provides a suitable contour to the abutment coping with the magnetic keeper and ensures proper mounting in the abutment coping, installing the magnetic keeper easily and effectively.