Effects of Composite Resin Teeth Versus Porcelain Teeth in Complete Dentures on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, Masticatory Function, and Patient Satisfaction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TL;DR

This study compared porcelain and composite resin teeth in dentures and found no significant differences in chewing, satisfaction, or quality of life over a year.

Contribution

The study is the first to comprehensively compare porcelain and composite resin denture teeth on multiple clinical outcomes over 12 months.

Findings

No significant differences were found between porcelain and composite resin dentures in oral health-related quality of life.

Both denture types showed similar improvements in masticatory function and patient satisfaction over 12 months.

Porcelain teeth showed a tendency for less wear, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Artificial teeth in complete dentures are classified according to the materials used: porcelain (PO) or composite resin (CR). However, these materials’ effects on function, patient satisfaction, and quality of life (QOL), as well as occlusal wear, remain unclear. We compared PO and CR complete dentures in edentulous patients by assessing masticatory function, patient satisfaction, and oral health-related QOL at 3, 6, and 12 months post-insertion, as well as occlusal surface morphology owing to material differences. Methods: In this open-label, randomized, single-center, parallel-group study, participants were edentulous patients who visited our hospital and underwent treatment with new complete dentures. The outcomes were oral health-related QOL; subjective satisfaction, assessed using a visual analog scale; and masticatory performance, evaluated with gummy jelly and were assessed at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months post-denture insertion. Occlusal surface impressions were taken twice, digitized as STL models, superimposed, and analyzed for wear. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare between groups. Results: All evaluated items showed improvement. However, no significant differences were observed between the PO and CR groups, including between the amount of wear observed in the two groups. However, the PO group showed a tendency toward less wear. Extended observation may be required to clarify the long-term effects of artificial tooth materials. Conclusions: In the short term, the artificial tooth material did not influence masticatory function, oral health-related QOL, or patient satisfaction.

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