Clinical Performance and Patients' Satisfaction of Digitally Versus Conventionally Fabricated Dentures: A Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Biomaterials Science
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Digital denture fabrication workflows are gaining traction in clinical practice.
• Limited randomized controlled trials exist comparing digital complete dentures (DCDs) with conventional complete dentures (CCDs).
• Patient satisfaction and clinical performance data for DCDs versus CCDs are scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient satisfaction between conventionally and digitally fabricated complete dentures.
• To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of DCDs versus CCDs.
• To assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients receiving DCDs and CCDs.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory randomized controlled pilot study with a cross-over design.
• 15 edentulous patients received both DCDs and CCDs in a randomized order.
• Each denture type was worn for a three-month adaptation period; patients were blinded to the fabrication method.

Main Results:

• Both DCDs and CCDs demonstrated satisfactory clinical outcomes for all participants.
• DCDs received high satisfaction ratings from all 15 patients; 14 patients rated CCDs similarly.
• DCDs showed a consistent, albeit slight, advantage in OHRQoL scores.

Conclusions:

• Both conventional and digital complete dentures are clinically effective and well-accepted by patients.
• DCDs provide a modest enhancement in patient satisfaction and OHRQoL compared to CCDs.
• DCDs offer comparable clinical outcomes to conventional methods with potential benefits in patient comfort and perceived quality of life.