Advantages of CAD/CAM versus Conventional Complete Dentures - A Review

BACKGROUND: The introduction and evolution of CAD/CAM technology into complete dentures fabrication brought high expectations in improving disadvantages associated with conventional methods. AIM: The purpose of this review was to analyse the existing literature on computer-engineered complete dentures and to determine their advantages over the conventional dentures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An electronic search of the English literature from January 1994 to March 2018 was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, using the following keywords: CAD/CAM complete dentures, computer-engineered complete dentures, complete digital dentures, complete milled dentures, and rapid prototyping dentures. RESULTS: A total of 179 English language titles were obtained from the database, and 14 were relevant to fulfil the purpose of this review. A review of 7 articles is summarized in 2 tables for presenting a comparison between CAD/CAM and conventional dentures in clinical and laboratory studies. CONCLUSION: Following the review of articles that discussed the comparison between CAD/CAM and conventional complete dentures in clinical studies, it can be concluded that the main advantages of CAD/CAM dentures are the reduced clinical chair time and the number of visits, digital archiving, significantly higher retention, and more favorable clinical and patient-centered outcomes. As a result of the review of laboratory studies, superior mechanical and physical properties in CAD/CAM dentures were revealed, concerning enhanced accuracy of fit of milled denture bases, less denture tooth movement and increased toughness, ultimate flexural strength, and higher elastic modulus.