Digital denture scanning and 3D printing for residents in care homes: A feasibility study for pre-empting denture loss

IF 2 3区医学 Q2 DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE

Gerodontology Pub Date : 2023-10-29 DOI:10.1111/ger.12723

Daniel Gillway, Mili Doshi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of digitally scanning dentures and 3D printing replica dentures for care home residents. The study also investigated whether the process and replacement denture was acceptable to the resident.

Background

Denture loss is a significant issue for people living in care homes and impacts on nutrition, quality of life and dignity. Denture loss is underreported, and care home residents have barriers to accessing dental care. The conventional process for remaking a denture can often take approximately 2 months with multiple clinical stages, often not feasible in adults with frailty and cognitive impairment. Scanning and 3D (3 dimensional) printing are increasingly used in dentistry, this rapidly evolving technology may provide an innovative solution to denture loss.

Materials and Methods

A digital workflow was established using a handheld scanner and 3D printing technology. Care home residents wearing functional acrylic dentures were recruited. Dentures were scanned within the care home, and the scan was sent to a dental laboratory for 3D printing. The dentures were fitted at a subsequent visit, and semi-structured interviews were undertaken with the resident. Using thematic analysis, the feasibility of this pathway was assessed, and the use of digital scanning technology was explored.

Results

Eight residents successfully had dentures scanned and replicated to a satisfactory standard. It took, on average, 10 minutes to scan a denture and 20 minutes to print the denture. All replica dentures were satisfactory to the resident. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews showed that study participants were satisfied with denture replacements and the process. The 3 main themes that emerged were: the significance of dentures to the individual, satisfaction with the scanning process and general low self-esteem and fatigue.

Conclusions

This study has established a workflow for digitally storing dentures and replicating them satisfactorily. In the context of a care home setting, a scan of a denture can be used to provide a replacement denture if lost or broken. A large-scale study could follow now that the feasibility of this pathway has been demonstrated.

查看原文本刊更多论文

养老院居民的数字义齿扫描和3D打印：预防义齿丢失的可行性研究。

目的：本研究旨在评估护理院居民使用数字扫描义齿和3D打印复制义齿的可行性。该研究还调查了该工艺和替代义齿是否为居民所接受。背景：对于生活在养老院的人来说，义齿脱落是一个重要问题，会影响营养、生活质量和尊严。牙科损失报告不足，养老院居民在获得牙科护理方面存在障碍。修复义齿的传统工艺通常需要大约2个具有多个临床阶段的几个月，在患有虚弱和认知障碍的成年人中通常是不可行的。扫描和3D（三维）打印在牙科中的应用越来越多，这项快速发展的技术可能为义齿缺失提供一种创新的解决方案。材料和方法：使用手持扫描仪和3D打印技术建立了数字工作流程。招募了佩戴功能性丙烯酸假牙的护理院居民。在护理院内对牙齿进行了扫描，扫描结果被送往牙科实验室进行3D打印。在随后的访问中安装了假牙，并对该居民进行了半结构化访谈。通过专题分析，评估了这一途径的可行性，并探索了数字扫描技术的使用。结果：8名居民成功地进行了义齿扫描和复制，达到了令人满意的标准。平均需要10 扫描义齿的分钟数和20 分钟打印义齿。所有的复制假牙都令住院医师满意。来自半结构化访谈的定性数据显示，研究参与者对义齿更换和过程感到满意。出现的3个主要主题是：假牙对个人的重要性、对扫描过程的满意度以及普遍的自卑和疲劳。结论：本研究建立了一个数字化存储义齿并令人满意地复制义齿的工作流程。在护理院环境中，如果义齿丢失或损坏，可以使用义齿扫描来提供替代义齿。既然这种途径的可行性已经得到证明，那么接下来可能会进行大规模的研究。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Gerodontology 医学-老年医学

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

10.00%

发文量

审稿时长

3-6 weeks

期刊介绍： The ultimate aim of Gerodontology is to improve the quality of life and oral health of older people. The boundaries of most conventional dental specialties must be repeatedly crossed to provide optimal dental care for older people. In addition, management of other health problems impacts on dental care and clinicians need knowledge in these numerous overlapping areas. Bringing together these diverse topics within one journal serves clinicians who are seeking to read and to publish papers across a broad spectrum of specialties. This journal provides the juxtaposition of papers from traditional specialties but which share this patient-centred interest, providing a synergy that serves progress in the subject of gerodontology.