A randomised controlled trial of complete denture impression materials.

Area of Science:

• Dental Prosthetics
• Materials Science in Dentistry

Background:

• Limited high-quality evidence exists for non-implant prosthodontic treatment best practices.
• Continuing demand for complete dentures necessitates research into optimal impression materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient preference between alginate and silicone impression materials for complete dentures.
• To provide evidence-based guidance for selecting secondary impression materials in prosthodontics.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized, crossover controlled clinical trial involving 85 patients.
• Patients received complete dentures fabricated from both alginate and silicone impressions.
• Outcomes included patient preference, comfort, stability, chewing efficiency, and oral health impact.

Main Results:

• A significant majority of patients (67.9%) preferred dentures made from silicone impressions over alginate (17.9%).
• Silicone impressions resulted in a 50% greater preference rate compared to alginate.
• No significant difference was found in the number of patients finding both equally satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

Conclusions:

• Silicone impression materials demonstrate a clear patient preference for the fabrication of complete dentures.
• Dentists should consider silicone as the material of choice for secondary impressions for complete dentures.