Digital Complete Dentures: An Updated Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Background: Digital technologies are widely used today to fabricate prosthodontic restorations, including complete dentures. The aim of this review was to provide information about the technologies for fabricating digitally manufactured complete dentures, the materials used, the digital methods for obtaining impressions, and the digital design of prostheses. Additionally, it discusses the procedures for creating complete removable dentures using both conventional and digital methods, examining their advantages and disadvantages, along with the unique features of various digital technologies. Standardizing treatment stages with digital dentures enhances fabrication speed, data consistency, and patient comfort. Materials and Methods: All study types reporting on complete dentures manufactured by digital (milled/3Dprinted) and conventional processes were included. Studies reporting on fixed dentures and partial removable dentures were excluded. The search was conducted in Pubmed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, and only English-language papers were included. Results: A total of 1,082 studies were initially identified through the search across mentioned databases. Ultimately, 24 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. These studies provided comparative data on the fabrication of complete dentures through digital (milled and 3D-printed) and conventional processes, offering insights into their clinical applications, materials, workflows, and outcomes. Conclusion: Digital complete dentures offer significant advantages in terms of efficiency, precision, and patient satisfaction, positioning them as a viable alternative to conventional dentures. However, further advancements in technology and research are required to address existing limitations, particularly in clinical trial phases and costeffectiveness.