2 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Complete dentures represent the traditional dental treatment for patients without teeth. However, retention and stability of this type of denture are often lacking, so dental implants are indicated in order to improve the stability of the denture, along with the satisfaction of the patient. Usually, the dental implants are inserted and then a period of 3-6 months is waited before any denture is connected to them. Recent studies have demonstrated that connecting the lower denture to the implants immediately after the implant placement, leads to an improvement in the result, with a social and psychological benefit for the patient. Therefore, the aim of this research project is to evaluate the application of the immediate connections of the implants for the upper dentures. 15-40 patients wearing an upper denture will receive 4 dental implants and the denture will be immediately connected. To simplify the surgical procedure, the implants will be placed without exposing the bone. This surgical technique is called guided surgery. Secondary objective of this research project will be the evaluation of the precision of the implant positioning, using this specific technique. The patients will be followed up for 12 months, for the implant and denture evaluation, as well as the evaluation of patient satisfaction and impact on quality of life through questionnaires.
Purpose: To compare complete denture outcomes between conventional and digital denture fabrication processes. Participants: Sixteen edentulous adult patients in the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry Student Clinic who are seeking removable complete dentures. Procedures (methods): Two complete sets of dentures will be fabricated for each subject: one using the conventional process (A) and the other using a digital process (B). Variability will be assessed by the research team, the treating dental students, an independent prosthodontist, and the patients through quantitative measures. Case selection and results analysis will be evaluated with recognition of the Prosthodontic Diagnostic Index.