Do analógico ao digital: Abordagens inovadoras na confecção de próteses totais removíveis

Abstract

Edentulism significantly impacts patients' quality of life, compromising essential functions such as chewing, speech, and aesthetics, in addition to causing facial structure changes and reduced self-esteem. This makes oral rehabilitation essential, requiring effective and accessible solutions. The fabrication of Complete Removable Dentures (CRDs) has evolved with advances in digital technologies, especially CAD-CAM, providing greater precision, reduced clinical time, and lower operational costs. This study aimed to establish standardized clinical protocols for the fabrication of Digital CRDs, considering two scenarios: a comprehensive protocol for patients without previous CRDs and a simplified protocol for those whose existing CRDs can be scanned as a reference for the fabrication of new dentures within the digital workflow. Additionally, digital techniques for CRD fabrication were compared to the conventional (analog) technique. The results indicate that, regardless of the protocol (comprehensive or simplified), Digital CRDs can achieve good outcomes in terms of retention, adaptation, and aesthetic predictability, especially when combined with extraoral photography/scanning. However, functional impression and maxillomandibular registration must still be performed conventionally. Thus, the integration of conventional methods with digital technology allows for a more efficient and accessible approach to Digital CRD fabrication, making it a viable alternative for the oral rehabilitation of edentulous patients.