*Register here: https://apps.dentistry.uiowa.edu/CodCERegistration/Home/CELogin
Cost: $360
CE Credit Hours: 4
*The first 50 people to register will receive a complimentary copy of Dr. Edgar García Zea's book The Suction Solution: A Step-by-Step Guide to Digital Mandibular Complete Dentures.
Mandibular Digital Complete Dentures: The Suction Solution
Course Description
This 4-hour lecture and live demonstration course focuses on predictable protocols for mandibular complete dentures using digital workflows. Emphasis will be placed on clinical diagnosis and prognosis of the edentulous mandible, primary impressions, custom tray extension principles, and the biological and biomechanical foundations of closed-mouth functional impressions.
Participants will learn structured, evidence-based protocols to improve retention and stability in mandibular complete dentures through both conventional principles and modern digital tools.
The course includes a live demonstration of digital workflows, including:
Digital design of a custom tray in Exocad
Digital design of a complete mandibular denture in Exocad
Demonstration of custom tray design using free/open-source software
Step-by-step explanation of a fully digital denture workflow
This program bridges traditional prosthodontic fundamentals with contemporary digital solutions, providing clinicians with predictable, reproducible strategies for mandibular complete denture therapy.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:
Understand the anatomical and biological principles necessary for accurate prognosis in edentulous mandibular cases.
Apply structured protocols for predictable primary impressions in the lower arch.
Recognize key principles for custom tray extension in mandibular complete dentures.
Explain the fundamentals of closed-mouth functional impressions and their role in achieving suction.
Implement predictable digital workflows for mandibular complete denture fabrication.
Design a custom tray digitally using Exocad.
Understand the digital design process of a mandibular complete denture using Exocad.
Explore alternative workflows using open/free software for custom tray design.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Edgar García Zea obtained his DDS from Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil in 2011 and subsequently completed his postgraduate training in Prosthodontics and Implant Dentistry at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in 2014.
Dr. García Zea has extensive experience in both private practice and academia. He has served as a key opinion leader and educator in prosthodontics, teaching at prestigious institutions including Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo (UEES), and the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, where he played a vital role in training the next generation of dental professionals.
He has published numerous articles in international peer-reviewed journals and has directed international courses in prosthodontics and digital dentistry across more than 12 countries, sharing innovative protocols and structured approaches to complete denture therapy.
Dr. García Zea currently maintains a private practice in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and serves as a faculty researcher at Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil. His work focuses on complete dentures, digital workflows, and the development of predictable, evidence-based clinical protocols for mandibular suction dentures.