The new removable denture patient: treatment procedures.

Dentists are beginning to see a new type of patient who requires removable prosthodontic rehabilitation. These patients are the result of both increases in longevity and dental treatment that has retained teeth, despite the onslaught of caries and periodontal disease. The current procedures for transitioning patients into removable prostheses can be modified for this new group of patients. This article presents a transition procedure for patients who are receiving removable prostheses, which dissociates the surgical phase of treatment from the prosthetic stage. The patient's existing teeth are incorporated into a removable prosthesis in a way that ensures the exact replication of the tooth position in the oral cavity. This method addresses many of the inadequacies of current procedures while at the same time requiring a minimum of chair time. Even with this procedure, this transition is still difficult for the patient.