Adaptation of removable partial denture rest seats in prostheses made with selective laser sintering or casting...

New fabrication techniques have been developed for removable partial denture (RPD) frameworks although studies validating the clinical application of these techniques are scarce.

The purpose of this clinical study was to compare the adaptation of RPD framework rests made with conventional casting or computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) with selective laser sintering (SLS) at the clinical evaluation and 1 year after the delivery of the prostheses.

This triple-blinded pilot study included 18 participants presenting with maxillary and/or mandibular partial edentulism, of which only 7 returned for the second measurement 1 year after prosthesis delivery. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups depending on whether the RPD framework was made with SLS or conventional lost-wax casting. The adaptation of the RPD at the rest seat area was evaluated by injecting a silicone material on the abutment tooth before seating. The silicone specimens were then sectioned transversely and measured with a scanning electron microscope. The statistical analysis was performed with a linear mixed-effect model with the intention to treat and with a 3-factor repeated measures ANOVA (α=.05).

At the metal framework evaluation (T₀), the prostheses made with SLS showed a mean ±standard deviation adaptation of 398 ±45 μm, while those made with conventional casting presented a mean ±standard deviation adaptation of 176 ±41 μm (P=.009). One year after the delivery of the prostheses (T₁), the adaptation of the frameworks made with conventional casting was still significantly better (88 ±6 μm versus 197 ±94 μm, P=.03).

Frameworks made with SLS showed worse clinical accuracy at the rest than frameworks produced with conventional casting.