Prosthodontics Course

Lesson 1 • Oral Anatomy for Prosthodontists

Reviews hard and soft tissue anatomy relevant to prosthesis design and support. Connects anatomical landmarks to clinical decision-making throughout the chapter.

Lesson 2 • Temporomandibular Joint Anatomy and Function

Covers TMJ anatomy, disc-condyle relationships, and mandibular movement pathways. Establishes the physiologic basis for recording and reproducing jaw relationships.

Lesson 3 • Biomechanics of Tooth-Supported Prostheses

Analyzes force distribution, stress concentration, and lever mechanics in fixed and removable designs. Grounds students in the physical rationale behind preparation and connector geometry.

Lesson 4 • Dental Materials Science Overview

Surveys mechanical and physical properties of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites used in prosthodontics. Prepares students to select materials based on clinical requirements.

Lesson 1 • Esthetic Analysis and Smile Design

Applies facial proportion, dental midline, and tooth display analysis to esthetic treatment planning. Bridges objective measurements with patient-centered esthetic goals.

Lesson 2 • Diagnostic Casts and Mounting

Teaches accurate impression taking, cast fabrication, and articulator mounting for diagnostic purposes. Mounted casts serve as the three-dimensional foundation for all subsequent planning.

Lesson 3 • Sequenced Treatment Planning

Organizes treatment into systemic, preparatory, restorative, and maintenance phases. Teaches prioritization logic that prevents restorative failure from unresolved disease.

Lesson 4 • Comprehensive Patient Examination

Structures the full prosthodontic examination including medical history, extraoral and intraoral assessment, and radiographic review. Ensures no diagnostic data is overlooked before planning begins.

Lesson 1 • Impression Techniques for Fixed Restorations

Teaches tissue management, material selection, and tray technique for accurate single-unit impressions. Accurate impressions are the direct prerequisite to well-fitting laboratory restorations.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Tooth Preparation

Defines preparation requirements including taper, finish line design, and retention form for various crown types. Directly applies biomechanical principles from Chapter 1 to clinical technique.

Lesson 3 • Porcelain Veneer Preparation and Design

Covers conservative enamel reduction, margin placement, and window vs. wrap-around designs for veneers. Emphasizes preservation of enamel for optimal bonding and long-term success.

Lesson 4 • Provisional Restorations

Instructs fabrication of direct and indirect provisionals that protect preparations and maintain occlusion. Provisionals also serve as esthetic and functional templates for definitive restorations.

Lesson 1 • Try-In, Cementation, and Occlusal Verification

Guides the clinical steps of seating, adjusting, and cementing fixed restorations with occlusal verification. Correct cementation technique prevents marginal leakage and post-insertion sensitivity.

Lesson 2 • Inlays and Onlays: Preparation and Design

Covers cavity preparation principles, isthmus width, and cusp coverage decisions for inlays and onlays. Positions these restorations as conservative alternatives to full-coverage crowns.

Lesson 3 • Pontic Design and Tissue Management

Compares pontic forms including ridge-lap, modified ridge-lap, ovate, and hygienic designs. Correct pontic selection preserves tissue health and supports long-term bridge success.

Lesson 4 • Fixed Partial Denture Design Principles

Applies Ante's law, span length limits, and abutment selection criteria to bridge planning. Builds directly on single-unit preparation knowledge to address multi-unit complexity.

Lesson 1 • RPD Component Design and Selection

Covers rests, clasps, major and minor connectors, and denture bases with selection rationale. Each component is linked to its biomechanical function established in Chapter 1.

Lesson 2 • RPD Classification and Survey Analysis

Applies Kennedy classification and Applegate rules to categorize partially edentulous arches. Survey analysis determines the design path before any component selection begins.

Lesson 3 • Impressions and Framework Try-In

Teaches altered cast technique, master impression procedures, and framework evaluation at try-in. Framework fit directly determines the accuracy of subsequent occlusal records and tooth arrangement.

Lesson 4 • Delivery, Adjustment, and Maintenance

Covers insertion procedures, pressure-indicating paste adjustments, and long-term maintenance protocols. Proper delivery and follow-up prevent tissue damage and extend prosthesis longevity.

Lesson 1 • Impression Procedures for Complete Dentures

Teaches primary and final impression techniques including border molding and selective pressure methods. Accurate impressions capture functional borders essential for retention and stability.

Lesson 2 • Edentulous Patient Assessment

Evaluates ridge morphology, muscle attachments, and residual ridge resorption patterns in edentulous patients. Assessment findings directly guide impression tray selection and border extension decisions.

Lesson 3 • Wax Try-In and Denture Delivery

Evaluates esthetics, occlusion, and phonetics at wax try-in before processing, then delivers and adjusts the finished denture. Systematic try-in prevents costly remakes and ensures patient acceptance.

Lesson 4 • Tooth Selection and Arrangement

Guides selection of anterior and posterior tooth forms, sizes, and shades, and their arrangement on the occlusal plane. Tooth arrangement directly affects esthetics, phonetics, and occlusal balance.

Lesson 1 • Implant-Level Impression Techniques

Teaches open-tray and closed-tray impression techniques and digital scanning for implant restorations. Accurate implant-level impressions are essential for passive-fitting frameworks and correct occlusion.

Lesson 2 • Single-Implant Crown Restoration

Covers abutment selection, crown design, and occlusal loading principles for single-implant crowns. Applies fixed prosthodontic knowledge from Chapters 3 and 4 to the implant context.

Lesson 3 • Implant Biology and Osseointegration

Reviews implant surface characteristics, healing phases, and factors affecting osseointegration. Biological understanding informs loading protocols and restoration timing decisions.

Lesson 4 • Implant-Supported Fixed Partial Dentures

Extends bridge design principles to implant-supported and implant-tooth-supported fixed partial dentures. Addresses passive fit requirements and the controversy of connecting implants to natural teeth.

Lesson 1 • Full-Arch Fixed Implant Prostheses

Covers hybrid prosthesis design, All-on-X concepts, and framework material options for full-arch fixed restorations. Requires integration of implant biology, occlusion, and material science from all prior chapters.

Lesson 2 • Jaw Relation Records for Implant Cases

Adapts jaw relation recording techniques to edentulous implant patients using verification jigs and record bases. Accurate records prevent costly remakes of expensive full-arch frameworks.

Lesson 3 • Delivery and Loading Protocols

Guides immediate, early, and conventional loading decisions and the clinical steps for delivering full-arch prostheses. Loading protocol selection is driven by implant stability and bone quality data.

Lesson 4 • Implant Overdenture Design and Attachments

Compares ball, bar, and locator attachment systems for mandibular and maxillary implant overdentures. Attachment selection balances retention, maintenance burden, and patient dexterity.