Review article: CAD-CAM in removable dental prosthesis

Abstract

Removable dentures are a treatment option for replacing missing teeth. Use digital technologies in manufacturing of removable dental prosthesis is recent with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM). Additive or subtractive methods can be used for the fabrication of removable dentures. This review includes articles from the last 5 years on the use of CAD-CAM for manufacture of removable prostheses. The most frequent failures of the conventional system in the manufacture of removable dental prosthesis should avoid with digital workflow in clinical procedures, fabrication methods and materials used. Intraoral scans for removable dentures have been a lack of accuracy and difficulties in capturing soft tissues because. Manufacturing of removable dental prostheses with CAD-CAM has proven properties clinically acceptable, with milled, three-dimensional printer or laser‐sintered methods. CAD-CAM-milled and rapid-prototyped of removable denture are similar in terms of biocompatibility and surface roughness. This technology allows exploring the use of new materials such as polyetheretherketone for manufacture of frameworks for removable prostheses. Digital scanning, three-dimensional printing or milled method is more efficient and more comfortable, allowing advantages in terms of time and cost of prosthesis with predictable results. New studies are needed to show the benefits of CAD-CAM technology in removable dental prosthesis.