Educational Purpose of the Exercise
This exercise has been designed to support undergraduate dental students in developing foundational skills in removable partial denture (RPD) design and associated tooth modification techniques. It introduces key principles of prosthodontic planning and prepares students for clinical application through structured analysis and simulation. Specifically, it aims to enhance:
- Identification of suitable abutment teeth
- Understanding of path of insertion
- Removable partial denture design principles
- Recognition of required tooth modifications
- Occlusal rest seat preparation
- Guide plane preparation
- Integration of design planning with operative execution
Structure of the Exercise
The exercise is delivered using a combination of visual resources, planning tasks, and simulation-based practice:
Visual Case Materials
Students are provided with images of a dental model from multiple angles to support analysis, in case students don't have access to software that allows them to view an STL file.
Case Analysis and Planning
Students:
- Identify appropriate abutment teeth
- Consider the optimal path of insertion
Denture Design
Students produce a removable partial denture design by:
- Drawing or annotating their design on paper
- Indicating areas where tooth modification is required
Simulation Practice
Using SimToCare simulators, students carry out their planned design by:
- Preparing occlusal rest seats
- Creating guide planes
Following their own design to translate theoretical planning into practical execution, the exercise promotes clinical reasoning, technical accuracy, and reflective practice before progression to patient-based care.
