Digital vs. conventional removable complete dentures: A retrospective study on clinical effectiveness and cost-efficiency in edentulous patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-efficiency of conventional and digital prosthodontic protocols, with a specific focus on milled and 3D-printed digital removable complete dentures. METHODS: This retrospective clinical study was conducted at the Removable Prosthodontics Department of the University of Siena. 60 patients were divided into two groups: 30 received conventional complete dentures, while the remaining 30 received digital complete dentures (15 milled and 15 3D-printed). Clinical outcomes were assessed using OHIP-14, bite force measurements, and masticatory performance tests before and six months after treatment. Treatment-related metrics, including chairside time, follow-up time, and laboratory costs, were recorded and compared across the groups. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the significance of differences between conventional and digital complete dentures, as well as between milled and 3D-printed digital complete dentures. RESULTS: The study revealed that digital complete dentures significantly reduced chairside time compared to conventional dentures, with average times of 154.31 ± 13.19 min for digital dentures and 218.00 ± 20.75 min for conventional dentures (p < 0.0001). Laboratory costs were found to be statistically lower for digital dentures, (€378.79 ± 137.46 vs. €459.15 ± 63.72, p = 0.0059) compared to conventional dentures. No statistically significant differences were observed in bite force or masticatory performance between the groups. OHIP-14 scores indicated slightly lower patient satisfaction with digital dentures, but the difference was not clinically significant. CONCLUSION: Digital removable dentures, including both milled and 3D-printed models, offer a practical and efficient alternative to conventional dentures, particularly in terms of reducing chairside time and laboratory costs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Digital removable dentures offer a practical and efficient alternative to conventional dentures, particularly in terms of reducing chairside time and costs. These simplified digital protocols could be applied in residential facilities or within national healthcare programs, improving access to prosthetic care for a larger number of patients.