Evaluation of Masticatory Performance and Patient Satisfaction for Conventional and 3D Printed Implant Overdentures

Primary outcomes

1. Chewing efficiency

   Time frame: at time of insertion of prosthesis T(0), 3 months after insertion T(3).

   Chewing efficiency was assessed using the previously documented two-color mixing ability test (colorimetric method) as follow: Two samples were prepared from two colored chewing gums. Patients were asked to keep the gum sample intraorally for one minute then start to chew it for 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 strokes respectively. Five samples were used for the tests, the samples were spat into clear plastic bags. All samples were evaluated after flattening to wafers of 1 mm thickness. scanned by Digital scanner from both sides stored in Adobe Photoshop® format (psd). Then the color range tool and histogram function were used to pick out the unmixed white parts of the image. Then the ratio of Unmixed Fraction (UF) was computed using the following formula: (Pixels white side a + Pixels white side b) - 2× Pixels of scale / 2 × Pixels all. As a reference scale, a scanned piece of unmixed gum was copied in each image

2. Patient satisfaction

   Time frame: at time of insertion of prosthesis T(0), 3 months after insertion T(3).

   The eight core of McGill Denture Satisfaction Questionnaire (MDSQ) items were used to record patient satisfaction with their mandibular complete removable denture. One question concerns overall satisfaction with existing prostheses, whereas the other seven questions refer to specific aspects that may influence overall satisfaction: ease of cleaning; ability to speak; comfort; aesthetics/appearance; and denture stability; chewing ability; chewing function. Respondents provided answers on a 100-mm visual analogue scale. Patients were encouraged to respond to the survey questionnaire after functioning with each type of denture for 3-months.