Digital versus conventional complete dentures: A randomized controlled pilot study of short-term patient satisfaction and quality of life within a mobile dental service setting
Chaimongkon Peampring, Phatootip HenprasertAbstract
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 (
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
Results:
Overall VAS satisfaction showed no significant intergroup differences (
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.