STUDY ON THE CLINICAL APPLICATION OF INTRAORAL DIGITAL IMPRESSION TO REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURES

Background: It is well known that intraoral digital impression has been widely used in the field of fixed prosthodontics and achieved good clinical outcomes. Moreover, the clinical application of intraoral digital impression to dental implant and complete denture has also developed rapidly. However, the study on the clinical application of digital impression to removable partial denture is lacking. This study sought to investigate the effects of intraoral digital impression on the clinical adaptation of removable partial dentures (RPDs). Methods: 78 patients with indications of RPDs were selected. Two RPDs were made for each patient, respectively, with the methods of intraoral digital scanning (the digital group) and taking silicon rubber impression (the traditional group). The clinical adaptation of retainers, major connectors and base plates and the occluding accuracy of RPDs were examined and scored when RPDs were inserted. The scoring results were analysed by X^2 test. Mucosa in denture bearing area was re-examined 1 week and 4 weeks after denture insertion. Results: The retainers’ adaptation of RPDs in the digital group was significantly better than that in the traditional group (P<0.05). The adaptation of major connectors and base plates of RPDs in two groups was not significantly different(P>0.05). The occluding accuracy of RPDs in two groups was not significantly different(P>0.05). Mucosa in denture bearing area was not found abnormal in two follow-up examinations after denture insertion. Conclusions: The clinical adaptation and the occluding accuracy of RPDs fabricated with the method of intraoral digital impression combined with 3D printing resin model could meet the requirements of clinical application.