Effect of aging on retention and tissue adaptability of digital obturator

Abstract Purpose To study effect of aging on retention and tissue surface adaptation on digital and conventional fabricated obturators. Patients and method A maxillary Armany class I epoxy reference model was used. The cast was scanned, and digital obturator was designed to fabricate seven digital obturators by two computer aided designing/computer aided manufacturing techniques: milling for Co-Cr framework and three-dimensional printing for obturator bulb (group I) Seven conventionally obturators (group II) were fabricated from heat cure resin and conventionally casted metal. To assess the accuracy of fit, a color map was constructed using geomatical software, and the misfit (distance between each obturator and the reference model) was measured at 60 standardized points. Mechanical evaluation which was done by ROBOTA chewing simulator, The test was repeated 37 500, 75 000, and 150 000 times to clinically simulate the 3, 6, and 12 months chewing condition. Then insertion removal test as simulating the placement and removal of the obturator was done and repeated 360, 720, and 1440 cycles to clinically simulate the 3, 6, and 12 months. Retention then evaluated by using Bluehill Lite from Instron Instrument. Result As regard to retention test and tissue surface adaptation before application of load as the baseline the digital obturator was highly retentive than the conventional obturator. the retention and tissue surface adaptation after application of load for 12 months were decreased with no significant difference between group I and group II. Conclusion After application of load for 12 months, over all tissue surface adaptation and retention were decreased for both obturators with no significant difference between them. Clinical implication The clinical implication is that digital obturator can be used successfully with the shortcomings of loosening retention and adaptation after a while. So, clinical trials should investigate the clinical acceptance of these shortcomings.