Conventional vs Simplified Complete Dentures

Background Complete dentures are fabricated with the conventional protocol which requires two impressions -preliminary, final-, the recording of maxillomandibular relationships, two try-ins, and the delivery of the denture. The final impression is challenging, demanding, and time-consuming. Therefore, simplified methods with the omission of the final impression have been proposed. Objective The aim of this systematic review is to compare the conventional with the simplified method according to masticatory performance and ability, patient satisfaction, oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL), denture quality, time, and cost. Data sources An electronic search of the MEDLINE-PubMed, Scopus and Europe PMC databases was conducted by two researchers. Study selection Randomized clinical trials, cohort clinical studies and clinical studies of complete dentures fabricated with the conventional or the simplified method were selected. Patients in need of a complete denture (Participants/Population) were divided in two categories, those who were treated with the simplified technique (Intervention) and those who were treated with the conventional technique (Comparison). Data extraction Between these two categories various outcomes were examined: masticatory performance and ability, patient satisfaction, OHRQoL, denture quality, time, and cost. Data synthesis 19 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Moreover, two systematic reviews and one meta-analysis of the same topic were included. Cost and time differed significantly between the two methods favoring the simplified protocol.