Survey on the acceptability of digital impression procedures in care-dependent older adults in Zurich: an exploratory...

This study aimed to evaluate older adults' attitudes toward digital impressions compared with conventional alginate impressions, and to assess time efficiency and cost implications of both techniques.

Older adults receiving domiciliary dental care were requested to participate in this study. Each participant received both a digital intraoral scan (IOS) and a conventional alginate impression. Acceptability and preference were assessed using a 9-item Visual Analog Scale (VAS) questionnaire evaluating comfort, breathing difficulty, gag reflex, sensitivity, time perception, tray/scanner size, taste/smell, overall preference, and recommendation to others. Time required for the procedures along with billed and unbilled costs were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using t-tests (α = 0.05).

Sixteen older adults (mean age 87.6 ± 7.7 years; MMSE 26.8 ± 6.1) participated in this study. Participants demonstrated a clear preference for IOS in most domains. The overall VAS score was significantly higher for IOS (88.5 ± 7.1) compared with conventional impressions (74.7 ± 13.6; p < 0.001). IOS was rated superior regarding comfort (p < 0.001), recommendation to others (p = 0.001), time perception (p = 0.003), breathing (p = 0.004), and gag reflex (p = 0.027). Sensitivity was not significant (p = 0.051). Total procedure time was comparable for the maxilla, but slightly longer for mandibular IOS (p = 0.031). Billed costs were identical however, IOS required four repetitions, resulting in additional unbilled costs (CHF 167.20).

Care-dependent older adults preferred digital impressions over conventional alginate techniques. Digital impressions may offer patient-centered advantages in selected geriatric contexts and may be considered a favorable approach in geriatric dental care, provided workflow efficiency is optimized.

Digital impression techniques may enhance patient cooperation and clinical experience in very old adults, particularly by reducing patient discomfort and in increasing patient compliance. However, clinicians should anticipate potential workflow inefficiencies and repetition-related costs, highlighting the need for optimized scanning protocols when integrating digital approaches into geriatric prosthodontic care.