Executive Summary
This whitepaper explores the economic and clinical advantages of TrueDent 3D printed monolithic dentures compared to conventionally fabricated dentures. By analyzing recent studies and clinical data, we demonstrate how TrueDent’s innovative production technology can result in fewer clinic visits, reduce chair time, improve patient satisfaction, and increase profitability for dental practices.
Introduction: The Digital Revolution in Dentistry
The dental industry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with digital technology and CAD/CAM workflows revolutionizing nearly every aspect of dental practice. This digital shift has particularly impacted the field of prosthodontics, offering new solutions for complete denture fabrication.
Patient Satisfaction and Treatment Efficiency
Recent surveys indicate that patients who received digitally fabricated dentures reported higher satisfaction levels compared to their experiences with conventionally fabricated dentures1. A key factor contributing to this increased satisfaction is the reduced treatment time associated with digital workflows.
Comparative Analysis: Conventional vs. Digital Workflows
A study conducted by the University of North Carolina (UNC) Adams School of Dentistry2 revealed significant differences in the number of visits required for conventional and digital denture fabrication. Fewer visits can translate to less chair time for the clinician, and less of a travel burden for patients, ultimately resulting in reduced expenses for both the clinician and patient.3,4,5
Number of Visits for Denture Preparation
On average, patients require 5 visits for a conventional denture workflow and only 2-4 for a TrueDent denture digital workflow.2
• Conventional method: 50% of cases required 6 or more visits from preliminary impression to placement.
• Digital method: Only 5% of cases required 6 or more visits.
• Some conventional cases in the predoctoral setting required 8 or more appointments.
Post Denture Delivery Adjustment Visits
The same study found:
• Conventional dentures: Patients required an average of 2- 3 postoperative visits.
• Digital dentures: Patients required an average of 1-2 postoperative visits.
• Some conventional denture patients returned 5 or more times, while no digital denture patients required more than 3 postoperative visits.
Figure 1 Number of appointments from start (preliminary impression) to finish (placement), for conventionally and digitally fabricated dentures. (Source: Clark 2021)
Figure 2 Number of postoperative appointments for conventionally and digitally fabricated dentures. (Source: Clark 2021)
• 85% of TrueDent full denture cases require no post-delivery adjustments, compared to only 14% with conventional dentures.
• TrueDent patients need a maximum of 2 adjustment appointments, while conventional denture patients may require up to 6.
Economic Advantages for Dental Practices
The reduction in appointments associated with TrueDent full dentures translates to significant economic benefits for dental clinics*:
• Income retention: Clinicians offering TrueDent full dentures could retain $241-$402 per case.
• Comparative loss: Clinicians offering conventional full dentures may experience a loss of $211
per case.
Fig 3. Number of post-delivery adjustment appointments with TrueDent vs. conventional dentures
Fig 4. Income per denture treatment for TrueDent vs. conventional dentures.
Conclusion: The TrueDent Advantage
TrueDent 3D printed complete dentures offer a win-win solution for both dental professionals and patients:
• For clinicians: Fewer appointments lead to increased efficiency and higher income retention.
• For patients: Reduced treatment time, fewer visits, and improved comfort enhance overall satisfaction.
By adopting TrueDent technology, dental laboratories can position themselves at the forefront of prosthodontic innovation, offering superior products that meet the evolving needs of both clinicians and patients in the digital age.
Sources:
References:
1. Saponaro PC, Yilmaz B, Johnston W, et al: Evaluation of patient experience and satisfaction with CAD-CAM-fabricated complete dentures: a retrospective survey study. J Prosthet Dent 2016; 116:524-528
2. Wendy Auclair Clark, DDS, Briana Brazile, DDS, Desi Matthews, DDS, Jonathan Solares, DDS, & Ingeborg J. De Kok, DDS, MS 1. A Comparison of Conventionally Versus Digitally Fabricated Denture Outcomes in a University Dental Clinic. Journal of Prosthodontics 30 (2021) 47–50 © 2020 by the American College of Prosthodontists
3. Kattadiyil MT, AlHelal A: An update on computer-engineered complete dentures: a systematic review on clinical outcomes. J Prosthet Dent 2017;117:478-485.
4. Saponaro PC, Yilmaz B, Heshmati RH, et al: Clinical performance of CAD-CAM-fabricated complete dentures: a cross-sectional study. J Prosthet Dent
2016;116:431-435.
5. Srinivasan M, Schimmel M, Naharro M, et al: CAD/CAM milled removable complete dentures: time and cost estimation study. J Dent 2019; 80:75-79.
6. TrueDent clinical assessment in 17 clinics and 155 patients by a large TrueDent customer (2023). What is the year/s of the clinical assessment?
7. Sony Saraswati, Priyanka Razdan, Smita, Monika RefferencesAggarwal, Devleena Bhowmick, and Priyanka Priyadarshni Traumatic Ulcerations Frequencies and Postinsertion Adjustment Appointments in Complete Denture Patients. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2021 Nov; 13 (Suppl 2): S1375–S1380.
8. Average number of yearly office working hours among U.S. dentists as of 2022, by employment status https://www.statista.com/statistics/964574/yearly-working-hours-dentists-us-by-employment-status/
9. Higher production and long-awaited stability: The 2024 DE/Levin Group Annual Practice Survey- Dental Economics https://www.dentaleconomics.com/
practice/article/55016675/higher-production-and-much-needed-stability-the-2024-de-levin-group-annual-practice-survey?o_eid=9061D9865312F7N&oly_enc_
id=9061D9865312F7N&rdx.ident[pull]=omeda|9061D9865312F7N&utm_campaign=CPS240507169&utm_medium=email&utm_source=DEC+Weekend
10. Dental office overhead percentages: Where does your practice land? https://www.meetdandy.com/learning-center/articles/how-to-reduce-your-dental-practices-overhead-in-only-6-steps/
11. Affordable Care’s Clinical Evaluation- Digital Economy Denture study
12. Average number of yearly office working hours among U.S. general practice dentists from 1990 to 2022
https://www.statista.com/statistics/964593/yearly-working-hours-general-practice-dentists-us/#:~:text=This%20statistic%20shows%20the%20average,the%20dental%20 office%20during%202022.
