Abordagem integrada do fluxo digital aplicado para confecção de dispositivos oclusais

Abstract

Occlusal devices are widely used in the management of temporomandibular disorders and bruxism, and the increasing incorporation of digital workflows has transformed their fabrication in both clinical and laboratory settings. This dissertation was developed through three complementary studies. Chapter 1 consists of a systematic literature review that evaluated the clinical and laboratory performance of occlusal devices fabricated using conventional and digital techniques (milled and 3D-printed); milled devices demonstrated superior adaptation and better wear resistance, whereas 3D-printed devices exhibited variable performance depending on the resin type and printing parameters. Chapter 2 describes the development and implementation of a digital educational manual for teaching the fabrication steps of occlusal devices using a digital workflow in 3D printing, which resulted in high satisfaction (97.9%) and improved understanding of the digital workflow (97.2%) among participating undergraduate and graduate students.. Chapter 3 presents the physicomechanical characterization of two Brazilian resins indicated for 3D printing of occlusal devices; the BioSplint resin showed significantly superior performance compared with the Cosmos Splint resin regarding tensile strength, fracture toughness, and work of fracture, with both materials exhibiting ductile behavior and plastic deformation prior to complete fracture. Furthermore, BioSplint exhibited higher water sorption and negative solubility, whereas Cosmos Splint showed lower water sorption and higher solubility; however, both materials complied with the limits established by ISO 4049. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that the selection of the occlusal device workflow and material should consider the specific properties of each resin, and that structured digital educational strategies represent a promising approach to preparing professionals for the critical and appropriate use of the technologies available within the digital workflow in clinical practice.