An opposing scan is crucial when designing a denture for several reasons:
- Occlusion and Bite Alignment: The opposing scan provides information about the patient's occlusion, which is essential for designing the denture to fit properly and ensuring that the teeth occlude correctly when the patient bites down. This alignment helps prevent discomfort and uneven wear of the denture.
- Functional Balance: It ensures that the forces during chewing are evenly distributed across the denture and the opposing teeth. Without this balance, the denture could cause excessive pressure on certain areas, leading to pain or damage to the underlying gums and bone.
- Aesthetic Considerations: The opposing scan helps in matching the size, shape, and alignment of the teeth on the denture to the natural teeth on the opposing arch. This results in a more natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
- Accurate Fit: By including the opposing scan, the design can take into account any unique anatomical features or irregularities in the opposing arch, which contributes to a more accurate and comfortable fit of the denture.
When the patient is edentulous (lacks natural teeth) on the opposing arch, the opposing scan is still important, but the approach changes slightly:
- Establishing Occlusal Plane: The opposing scan helps in establishing a proper Plane of Occlusion and Vertical Dimension of Occlusion (VDO), even if there are no teeth present. This is essential for creating a balanced and functional denture.
- Bite Registration: For edentulous patients, a bite registration is often used in conjunction with the scan to record the relationship between the upper and lower jaws. This registration provides the necessary information to ensure that the dentures will align correctly when the patient closes their mouth. It should include the Midline and Plane of Occlusion markings.
- Support and Stability: The scan of the edentulous ridge provides critical data about the contours and anatomy of the opposing arch. This helps in designing a denture that will sit securely on the ridge, maximizing support and stability.
- Symmetry and Aesthetics: Even without natural teeth, the opposing scan allows for the creation of symmetrical dentures with appropriate tooth positioning, contributing to a more natural look and feel.
Overall, the opposing scan is essential for creating a denture that functions properly, fits comfortably, and looks natural.
If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to our Customer Support team.
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