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3D-printed versus conventionally fabricated complete dentures: Time-efficiency and cost-effectiveness analysis
Anne Kaline Claudino Ribeiro1, Pamela Tayná Matias Bezerra1, Clebya Rosalia Pereira de Medeiros1
1Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Journal of Dentistry
|August 10, 2026
Summary
3D-printed complete dentures (DDs) are more cost-effective and time-efficient than conventional complete dentures (CDs). DDs significantly reduce costs and clinical/laboratory time without compromising patient satisfaction or oral-health-related quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Dental prosthetics
- Biomaterials engineering
- Health economics
Background:
- Conventional complete dentures (CDs) involve a multi-visit fabrication process.
- 3D-printed dentures (DDs) offer a potentially more efficient digital workflow.
- Evaluating the economic and clinical efficiency of DDs compared to CDs is crucial for clinical adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the cost, time-efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of conventional complete dentures (CDs) and 3D-printed dentures (DDs).
Main Methods:
- A clinical study involving 23 edentulous patients comparing 5-visit conventional (CD) and 3-visit digital (DD) fabrication workflows.
- Recording of clinical and laboratory times for all fabrication steps.
- Cost analysis from the provider perspective, including material and labor costs.
- Assessment of cost-effectiveness using patient satisfaction and Oral-Health-related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) as indicators.
Main Results:
- Conventional dentures (CDs) were statistically more expensive than 3D-printed dentures (DDs) (429.40 vs. 276.94).
- DDs required significantly less clinical (90.50 min vs. 179.68 min) and laboratory (150.85 min vs. 562.98 min) time.
- Patient satisfaction and OHRQoL did not differ significantly between the two techniques.
- Monte Carlo simulations indicated DDs were more cost-efficient and cost-effective.
Conclusions:
- 3D-printed dentures (DDs) represent a resource-efficient option in a university setting, optimizing time and reducing overall costs.
- DDs offer a cost-effective strategy with economic advantages compared to conventional dentures (CDs).
- The digital workflow maintains comparable patient-reported outcomes to conventional methods.
