A retrospective study comparing duplication and conventionally made complete dentures for a group of elderly people

The duplication technique is a well recognised method of replacing complete dentures. Advantages claimed for this technique are that patients adapt more easily to their new complete dentures and the numbers of treatment visits are reduced. The case notes of 100 patients were examined retrospectively, 50 of whom had had dentures constructed by undergraduates using a duplication technique and 50 with a conventional technique. In addition, a questionnaire was sent to the patients to obtain their views on the replacement dentures. The 'duplication group' required fewer visits for the delivery of the dentures, but there was no statistical difference between the numbers of post-insertion visits, for the two groups, needed to make the dentures comfortable. The only identifiable reason for selecting a duplication technique was the failure of construction of new dentures by a conventional method in 15 patients. Apart from this the two groups appeared remarkably similar when comparing age of dentures being replaced, period of edentulousness, number of previous complete dentures and medical histories. As judged by the questionnaire more patients in the duplication group continued to wear their new dentures compared to the conventional group.