Digital Technology And Customized Impression For Removable Partial Denture

In cases of severe mandibular alveolar bone atrophy combined with distal extension edentulism, conventional removable partial denture (RPD) techniques are technically challenging. The integration of digital technologies and customized impression protocols has streamlined treatment protocols and reduced technical complexity. A 65-year-old female presented with bilateral mandibular premolar and molar edentulism, characterized by atrophic alveolar ridges, limited attached gingiva, and a shallow lingual vestibule. The treatment protocol included bilateral free gingival grafts to augment attached gingival width, followed by intraoral digital scanning to generate a preliminary impression. This data was used to fabricate a customized polyetheretherketone (PEEK) framework and distal extension baseplate. A secondary silicone impression was then acquired using the customized framework to construct a patient-specific model, enabling precise tooth arrangement. The definitive restoration was finalized via intraoral try-in and adjustment, ensuring optimal intraoral adaptation and functional performance. Conventional methods often fail to accurately capture the complex anatomical features of oral mucosa and atrophic alveolar ridges in mandibular distal extension edentulism. Digital technologies, including computer-aided design of intraoral scan data, enabled the fabrication of a customized PEEK framework and a distal extension baseplate. During secondary impression-making, the integration of these patient-specific components provided enhanced access to lingual and distal mandibular regions, ensuring precise replication of intraoral anatomy. The integration of digital technologies and customized impression protocols reduces the technical complexity of RPD fabrication, decreases the frequency of clinical visits for patients with distal extension edentulism, and enhances intraoral comfort through precise prosthetic adaptation.