Patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes of digital dentures fabricated in a predoctoral dental clinic: An up to 2‐year retrospective analysis

PURPOSE: To investigate clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction of complete removable dentures fabricated with a hybrid workflow, utilized in a predoctoral dental clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic chart records were reviewed for all patients who received complete dentures (CDs) fabricated utilizing the hybrid workflow from May 1, 2021, to December 31, 2024. Information on clinical outcomes and relevant patient factors was collected. Additionally, information on the need for a remake or reline of these prostheses was recorded. Finally, the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) and the Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) score were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 213 completed OHIP-14 surveys were analyzed, with mean OHIP-14 scores of 9.23 (1 week), 7.02 (1 month), 6.90 (6 months), 6.97 (1 year), and 5.73 (2 years) (p < 0.05). Milled dentures met the threshold of clinical acceptability for all measured parameters across time points. Milled mandibular dentures showed poorer retention and stability than milled maxillary dentures, and the remake rate of milled maxillary immediate dentures was higher than that of milled dentures on healed ridges. Overall, 20% of milled immediate dentures and 4.8% of milled dentures on healed ridges required remakes, though only 5% of all immediate dentures needed remakes within 6 months. No significant trends were observed regarding patient gender, age, PDI classification, or opposing prosthesis type. CONCLUSIONS: Digital dentures fabricated using a hybrid workflow in this study showed clinical acceptability and good patient satisfaction at 1 year, with higher patient satisfaction reported at 2 years. Milled mandibular dentures demonstrated lower retention and stability than maxillary dentures, and maxillary immediate dentures had higher remake rates than digital dentures made on well-healed ridges. Milled dentures are a reliable option for patients irrespective of gender, age, or PDI classification when fabricated by predoctoral dental students.