A review on clinical use of CAD/CAM and 3D printed dentures

Khaled Alhallak; Eleni Hagi-Pavli; Ali Nankali

doi:10.1038/s41415-022-5401-5

A review on clinical use of CAD/CAM and 3D printed dentures

Br Dent J. 2023 Jan 9. doi: 10.1038/s41415-022-5401-5. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Khaled Alhallak¹, Eleni Hagi-Pavli², Ali Nankali³

Affiliations

¹ Queen Mary University of London, Institute of Dentistry, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Office 2, Turner Street, London, E1 2AD, UK. k.alhallak@qmul.ac.uk.
² Senior Lecturer in Oral Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Institute of Dentistry Room Number: G85, Blizard Building, Institute of Dentistry, UK.
³ Clinical Senior Lecturer, Centre of Teaching and Innovation (Adult Oral Health), Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, New Road, London, E1 1BB, UK.

PMID: 36624309
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-022-5401-5

Abstract

Aim The aim of this article was to review the current clinical application of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and three-dimensional (3D) printed dentures in dental clinics.Methods A systematic approach for searching PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The search was performed using a variety of keywords including clinical use AND 3D printed removable dentures OR clinical use AND CAD/CAM removable dentures OR clinical use AND digital removable dentures. Selection criteria included articles written in English and reporting information on clinical applications of digital dentures between 2010 to January 2022.Results The findings outlined the main clinical advantages of digital dentures such as saving working time, satisfying clinical results and securing patients' records, and also requirement of additional visits to secure aesthetic patient satisfaction, good retention and ideal vertical dimension. Many studies recommended performing clinical try-in with regards to providing better results. It was also established that 3D printers are less expensive than milling centres and therefore can be afforded by individual dental professionals.Conclusion Digital dentures are a promising option in treating edentulous patients, especially in remote areas where skilful technicians are rare. However, there are some limitations in their applications.