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Digital versus conventional complete dentures: A randomized controlled pilot study of short-term patient satisfaction
Chaimongkon Peampring1, Phatootip Henprasert
1Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Research Center of Excellence for Oral Health Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand.
Aim:
Conventional complete denture (CD) fabrication requires multiple appointments, posing barriers for remote elderly patients.This study compared oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and patient satisfaction between digitally fabricated dentures (DD) and conventional methods within the Royal Mobile Dental Services in Thailand.
Settings And Designs:
In this prospective randomized trial, 30 edentulous participants (aged 50-80 years) were allocated to CD ( n = 15) or DD ( n = 15) groups; 25 participants (CD: n = 15, DD: n = 10) completed the 1.5-month evaluation.
Materials And Methods:
The CD protocol used a four-visit, heat-polymerized workflow. The DD protocol used a three-visit workflow with mucostatic intraoral scanning and three-dimensional (3D) printing dentures. Participants and outcome assessors were blinded.
Statistical Analysis Used:
Outcomes were assessed after the first meal, at 24 h, and at 1.5 months using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for satisfaction and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 for OHRQoL. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U -tests.
Results:
Overall VAS satisfaction showed no significant intergroup differences ( P > 0.05). At 24 h, the DD group reported significantly higher negative impacts ( P < 0.05) on phonetics, taste perception, and food avoidance. By 1.5 months, most OHRQoL dimensions in the DD group normalized to match the CD group, but phonetic difficulties remained significantly higher ( P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
3D-printed dentures offer satisfaction comparable to conventional methods while reducing clinical visits. Early functional limitations resolve rapidly, but persistent phonetic issues suggest that standardized computer-aided design protocols may benefit from patient-specific customization to optimize speech outcomes in mobile dental settings.
