Digital complete removable denture (CRD, PAT): state of the art and contribution of digital workflows

Abstract

Introduction The complete removable denture (CRD, PAT) remains the standard treatment for completely edentulous patients. The conventional protocol is complex, time-consuming, and highly dependent on the expertise of the clinician and the dental technician. The integration of digital technologies (subtractive and additive CAD/CAM) has emerged as a promising alternative to improve accuracy, optimize material properties, and reduce the number of clinical appointments. This review evaluates the contribution of these digital workflows compared with conventional methods. Materials and Methods A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar (2020–2025) using the PICO model. Of 381 articles initially identified, 38 were retained after rigorous screening based on clinical relevance and scientific quality. Results and Discussion Digital CRDs provide clinical performance equivalent to or superior to conventional techniques in terms of fit accuracy, retention, and occlusal accuracy. Digital workflows enable a significant reduction in the number of appointments (2 to 4 versus 5) and in laboratory fabrication time. Patient satisfaction is generally comparable between techniques. Conclusion Hybrid workflows currently represent the safest and most widely adopted compromise. Optimization of printable materials and the progressive integration of artificial intelligence offer prospects for complete digitalization of the prosthetic care chain.