Patient-reported outcome measures of digitally versus conventionally constructed removable dentures: a systematic review protocol

Abstract

Objective: This review will evaluate patient-reported outcome measures of treatment with digitally fabricated versus conventionally manufactured removable dental prostheses in partially or completely edentate adults. Introduction: Compared with conventionally manufactured dental prostheses, digitally fabricated prostheses may simplify and reduce the number of clinical steps and minimize errors in the production of prostheses without compromising occlusal accuracy and fit. This may, in turn, improve patient satisfaction, ability to speak, esthetics, stability, and oral health status. Determining evidence of patient-reported outcomes will assist the dental practitioner when communicating patient expectations. Inclusion criteria: This review will consider experimental and quasi-experimental study designs, including randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, comparative or non-comparative clinical studies, prospective or retrospective trials, longitudinal clinical studies, clinical reports, and technique articles. The review will include patient-reported outcome measures from fully or partially edentulous adult participants who received either conventionally or digitally fabricated dental prostheses. Methods: The following databases will be searched for scientific, peer-reviewed literature: EBSCO (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, Dentistry and Oral Sciences), MEDLINE (PubMed), ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The search strategy will include terms relevant to the intervention, which will be adapted for each bibliographic database, in combination with database-specific filters, where available. The language restriction will be English and Dutch. All included studies will be critically appraised and data will be extracted for synthesis. If possible, a meta-analysis will be conducted. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach will be followed to evaluate the certainty of evidence. Systematic review registration number: PROSPERO CRD42018094357