Obturator fabrication incorporating computer-aided design and 3-dimensional printing technology: A clinical report

Abstract

This article reports an approach to fabricating a maxillary obturator using the computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) process. The maxillary definitive cast and the trial tooth arrangement were separately scanned and superimposed. The virtual cast created from the scan data was surveyed, and the framework was designed using specific software. The definitive cobalt-chromium framework was fabricated by using 3-dimensional (3D) selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. After framework trial placement, the definitive obturator prosthesis was processed using conventional heat-polymerizing resin with the lost-wax processing technique. Using CAD technology and 3D metal printing resulted in improved fit, function, and esthetics for the definitive obturator prosthesis.