New SmartRPD Workflow to Advance Denture Fabrication

SINGAPORE: A new smart digital workflow for fabricating removable partial dentures (RPDs) has been launched by the National Dental Centre Singapore (NDCS). Known as SmartRPD, this innovative system significantly reduces treatment times while improving the quality and fitting accuracy of RPDs. Developed with support from the Temasek Foundation and the Singapore Ministry of Health, the technology integrates cutting-edge digital processes with 3D printing to streamline the traditionally labour-intensive method of denture production.

SmartRPD promises significant improvements in patient care, not only offering time savings but also enhancing oral health, nutrition, and overall quality of life. Assistant Professor Dr Yu Na, the lead principal investigator at NDCS, emphasised the significance of this development: “The innovative workflow marks a strategic move towards enhancing our service operation, offering efficient, precise, and patient-centric RPD fabrication through digitalisation and automation.”

Streamlining Denture Production with Digital Tools

Traditional methods of producing metal-based RPDs involve manual metal casting, a process that is both time-consuming and highly dependent on the skill of the technician. Such methods often lead to poorly fitting dentures and less-than-optimal outcomes. SmartRPD aims to change this by automating the fabrication process.

The new workflow combines intra-oral scanning, automatic design, and 3D printing, resulting in a faster and more precise production process. Developed in collaboration with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR) Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), SmartRPD leverages computational geometry algorithms to create custom denture models based on patient-specific dental scans. “Our goal was to develop a dental software that enhances efficiency of custom RPD, allowing dentists to focus on more important tasks,” said Dr Lim Chi Wan, Principal Scientist at IHPC.

Addressing Growing Demand Among an Ageing Population

The introduction of SmartRPD comes at a critical time, as Singapore faces increasing dental care needs due to an ageing population. According to a 2017 community survey, 69 per cent of Singaporeans aged 65 and above wear dentures, with two-thirds of these seniors suffering from severe tooth loss. On average, elderly individuals in Singapore have only 11 remaining teeth, compared to the 20 functional teeth needed for a healthy mouth.

The demand for RPDs is expected to rise, with an estimated 40,000 RPDs required annually by 2020—a figure likely to increase as 24 per cent of the population is projected to be over the age of 65 by 2030. The SmartRPD workflow offers a solution to this growing demand by increasing efficiency and improving outcomes for denture patients.

Promising Results from Pilot Trials

A pilot clinical trial conducted by NDCS demonstrated high levels of satisfaction among dentists and patients using SmartRPD. Between 2020 and 2023, 90 patients participated in trials involving the new digital workflow, which included intra-oral scans, digital designs, and 3D-printed dentures. The results were encouraging, with a satisfaction rating of 95 per cent from clinicians.

Ms Heng Li Lang, Head of Climate & Liveability at Temasek Foundation, highlighted the potential impact of SmartRPD: “Tooth loss is a highly prevalent problem among our growing elderly population, and without adequate treatment, can lead to poor nutrition, chronic diseases, and other health problems. NDCS has developed an innovative solution that improves fit accuracy of partial dentures, reduces waiting time and patient visits to the dentist, and broadens affordable access.”

Future Directions: Clinical Validation and Commercialisation

Following the success of the initial trials, NDCS is now moving into the next phase of clinical validation. This stage will involve an additional 300 patients and 40 clinics to further evaluate the effectiveness of the SmartRPD system. Clinical Associate Professor Goh Bee Tin, Chief Executive Officer of NDCS, expressed optimism about the technology’s future: “Adoption of the SmartRPD will result in a better quality throughput, as well as help address the shortage in denture production. Our end goal is that it will improve the oral health, appearance, and overall quality of life for patients.”

Beyond clinical validation, NDCS is exploring potential industry partnerships to commercialise SmartRPD. The organisation is also working on integrating the technology into its specialist training programmes to ensure seamless adoption by dentists across Singapore.

The research behind SmartRPD is supported by the Singapore Ministry of Health through the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) and by the philanthropic contributions of Temasek and the Temasek Foundation. As NDCS looks toward the future, SmartRPD could play a crucial role in transforming denture care for the elderly population in Singapore and beyond.