DIGITAL OCCLUSAL ANALYSIS AND ORAL HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH 3D PRINTED COMPLETE DENTURES VERSUS CONVENTIONAL DENTURES

Background: 3D printed complete dentures fabrication with computer-aided designing and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques is becoming popular nowadays. However, studies that analyzed the occlusal forces distribution using recent digital methods as T-scan III and further evaluated the dentures effect on patient`s life quality were lacking. Objectives: Evaluation of the occlusal forces distribution using T-scan III, and evaluation of the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) using Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous Patients (OHIP-EDEN) questionnaire for 3D printed complete dentures and comparing it with conventional denture fabrication techniques. Methods: Twenty completely edentulous patients were selected and divided randomly into two equal groups according to manufacturing technique group I (patients who received conventional complete dentures), and group II (patients who received 3D printed complete dentures). For all patients, occlusal force analysis (percentage of applied occlusal force on both sides) was performed using the T-Scan III (digital occlusal analysis system). Also, OHRQoL was assessed using (OHIP-EDENT) questionnaire. Results: In the digital occlusal analysis, comparison between right and left sides regarding occlusal forces distribution revealed a significant difference in group I (conventional denture), while in group II (3D printed denture), it revealed an insignificant difference. Regarding, OHIP-EDENT patients in group I (conventional denture) revealed higher scores than group II (3D printed dentures). Also, the correlation between occlusal forces & (OHIP-EDENT) scores revealed a strong negative significant correlation. Conclusions: The 3D printed complete dentures fabricated using CAD/CAM technology proved to be more superior over conventional methods in terms of digital occlusal force analysis and Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous Patients (OHIP-EDENT). However, further studies are required on more patients to decide the exact superiority of one technique over the other after long-term follow-up periods.