Comparison of Complete Dentures Fabricated by Conventional and Neutral Zone Technique by Assessing the Oral Health-related Quality of Life of the Patients: An In-vivo Study

Introduction: Complete denture therapy is the most extensively used form of treatment for replacement of completely missing dentition as it is most affordable with least amount of complications. In prosthodontics, complete denture is considered successful only when it is harmonious between patient’s comfort, aesthetics and function by maintaining an appropriate balance between oral musculature. Patient’s satisfaction plays a major role in determining the success during treatment procedures. To have a good treatment outcome, it is eminent for a complete denture to be stable and retentive in the oral cavity. For the denture to be stable, it is necessary for it to be in harmony with the surrounding musculature. Aim: To compare complete denture prosthesis, fabricated by conventional and neutral zone technique by assessing the Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of the patients. Materials and Methods: This was an in-vivo study conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics including Crown and Bridge, Maharishi Markandeshwar College of Dental Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India, from March 2019 to April 2021. A total of 20 completely edentulous patients dissatisfied with their existing dentures were selected based on the following primary inclusion criteria: patients with previously worn complete dentures for at least one year who reported dissatisfaction with function or comfort. Each participant was assessed for baseline OHRQoL using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14 questionnaire before starting the treatment. Two sets of complete dentures were fabricated for each patient: one set using the conventional technique, and a second set where only the mandibular denture was fabricated using the neutral zone technique. Patients were blinded to the nature of the denture received and were randomly allocated to wear either the conventional or neutral zone denture first. Each set was worn for a period of 8 weeks following final adjustment. After each period, patients reassessed their OHRQoL using the OHIP-14 questionnaire. Age, gender, duration of edentulism, and previous denture-wearing experience were recorded for each participant. The compiled data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test to compare the OHIP-14 scores between the two denture type. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean OHIP-14 scores showed a marked improvement in OHRQoL from 46.90 (pre-treatment) to 28.90 after rehabilitation with conventional dentures, and further reduced to 19.15 with neutral zone dentures. This indicates a progressive enhancement in patient-perceived oral health outcomes. MannWhitney U test revealed a statistically significant difference between the neutral zone and conventional denture groups across all OHIP-14 domains (p<0.001), confirming the superior efficacy of the neutral zone technique in improving OHRQoL. Conclusion: Neutral zone dentures demonstrated improved patient satisfaction and oral health–related quality of life compared with conventional dentures. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are required to confirm these findings.