title: A randomized trial on simplified and conventional methods for complete denture fabrication: cost analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to quantify the costs of complete denture fabrication by a simplified method compared with a conventional protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of edentulous patients needing conventional maxillary and mandibular complete dentures was randomly divided into group S, which received dentures fabricated by a simplified method, and group C, which received conventionally fabricated dentures. We calculated direct and indirect costs for each participant including unscheduled procedures. This study assessed 19 and 20 participants allocated into groups S and C, respectively, and comparisons between groups were conducted by the Mann-Whitney and Student's t-test (α = 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete denture fabrication demanded median time periods of 173.2 and 284.5 minutes from the operator for groups S and C respectively, and 46.6 and 61.7 minutes from the dental assistant (significant differences, p < 0.05). There was no difference between groups regarding postinsertion adjustments. Group S showed lower values for costs with materials and time spent by patients than group C during the fabrication stage, but not during adjustments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The median direct cost of complete denture treatment was 34.9% lower for the simplified method. It can be concluded that the simplified method is less costly for patients and the health system when compared with a conventional protocol for the rehabilitation of edentulous patients.
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo-Ribeirão Preto Dental School, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Paula Della
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vecchia
authors.forename: Rômulo Rocha
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Regis
authors.forename: Tatiana Ramirez
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Ingrid Machado
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Julio César Souza
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: da Matta
authors.forename: Raphael Freitas
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: de Souza
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003726:Dental Assistants / Q000191:economics; D003761:Dental Impression Technique / Q000191:economics; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000191:economics; D003800:Dental Technicians / Q000191:economics; D003815:Dentists / Q000191:economics; D003779:Denture Design / Q000191:economics*; D003824:Denture, Complete / Q000191:economics*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007574:Jaw Relation Record / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019558:Occlusal Adjustment / Q000191:economics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials
keywords: Complete denture; costs and cost analysis; randomized controlled trial