Complete denture copy technique—A practical application

The copy denture technique is a misnomer for the clinical and laboratory procedures involved in making complete dentures that replicate most of the features of the original prosthesis. The aim is to replicate the good features of an otherwise successful prosthesis that now requires replacement and to alter the poor features and so it is strictly speaking not a copy. There are many purported advantages to this technique which include reduced treatment time, increased patient acceptance especially for the elderly who may not adapt so well to a new prosthesis, maintenance of tooth position and vertical dimension. A typical case is presented illustrating the clinical stages involved with a discussion of the merits of this technique.