SURVEY OF PATIENTS, UNDERGOING PROSTHETIC TRATMENT WITH RESTORATIONS, MADE BY CONVENTIONAL AND DIGITAL IMPRESSION TECHNIQUES

Abstract

All technologies and materials nowadays aim to ensure the elimination of pain, providing greater comfort and satisfaction for the patient. Research on patients' perceptions of the technologies used is gaining in popularity. The aim of this article is to study and compare the opinions of patients who have sought dental care to treat a defect in the dentition with restorations made using a conventional and digital impression. Materials and methods: The survey involved 116 patients who sought dental care in two private practices in Varna, Bulgaria. To achieve the goal of the survey, special questionnaires have been developed, in which there are two types of questions: with only one or more than one possible answer. Results: Most of the participants (81%) report that they have at least one extracted tooth, which is not a third molar (wisdom tooth). Patients over the age of 40 are more likely to have a missing tooth. Slightly more than 1/3 of the patients or 35% indicated impaired masticatory and aesthetic function. Most of the patients prefer a prosthetic treatment with a fixed restoration. On 76,7 % of the patients a conventional impression was taken during dental treatment and only 12 % report that they undergo a treatment with digital impressions. Conclusion: Our results show that males are at a higher risk for premature loss of permanent teeth than females. (OR=2.17 (0.830-5.654); p<0.05). The analysis of the discomfort of teeth loss according to gender revealed a significant difference in women and men (p <0.05), as women mostly experience discomfort from impaired aesthetic function, while in men the discomfort is associated with impaired masticatory and speech function.