In recent years many advances in digital technology have made the impossible possible. The inventing of computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) has provided many time saving and efficient tools that have competed with the traditional methods. In regards to the digital denture, CAD software has enabled the design of the denture on a virtual model , which can be directly obtained by the use of an intraoral scanner or indirectly by the scanning of the conventional impression or stone cast fabricated from the conventional impression. Then the denture can be constructed either by additive or subtractive manufacturing methods
Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare retention and occlusion of digital dentures versus conventional dentures.
Materials and methods: Ten fully edentulous patients were selected to participate in this study. Two dentures with balanced occlusion were constructed for each patient. The first one was manufactured using the conventional technique while the second was manufactured using a digital workflow. The dentures were delivered and then retention and occlusion were assessed to evaluate the competency of the digitally manufactured denture.
Conclusion: digitally manufactured dentures show a promising alternative to conventionally manufactured ones, in terms of retention and occlusion.