Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate retention and occlusion of complete dentures fabricated using 3D printed custom trays with the aid of arcus digma in less steps versus conventional method.
Materials and methods: Ten patients were selected to participate in this study. For each one, two complete dentures were constructed, Group I were rehabilitated with a conventional complete denture, while Group II were rehabilitated with a complete denture constructed using 3D designed and printed custom trays with gothic arch tracing of jaw relation with the help of arcus digma.
Results: By comparing the two groups there was a significant difference between them in biting force distribution where (SD) values for biting force difference posteriorly between the right and left posterior segments for centric occlusion was significantly higher for Group I (20.52±7.99) than Group II (14.45±7.33). Anteriorly Group I (27.85±25.68) had significantly higher mean value for biting force distribution than Group II (21.70±23.92). While there was no significant difference between them in retention evaluation where Group II (31.36±2.73) showed higher mean value than Group I (28.95±5.95), yet the difference was not significant.
Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it was found that dentures made by using gothic arch technique in taking centric relation by the help of arcus digma was more accurate in occlusion, this means that the force was more evenly distributed on the denture leading to better stability and fewer adjustments. Dentures made using this technique also had retention competent to regular dentures.