Complete digital workflow for complete arch implant therapy: Fact or fiction?

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Digital Dentistry
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Assessing the validity of a complete digital workflow for complete-arch implant prostheses, eliminating the need for definitive casts.
• Reviewing current literature on intraoral scanning and photogrammetry for digital implant recording in complete-arch cases.

Approach:

• Literature review of intraoral scanning and photogrammetry technologies.
• Analysis of advantages, limitations, and recommendations for digital data acquisition methods.
• Presentation of a contemporary approach for digital data acquisition, design, and manufacturing in dual-arch implant therapy.

Key Points:

• Intraoral scanning and photogrammetry are key technologies for complete-arch digital implant recording.
• Existing literature highlights the need for more clinical studies to validate the complete digital workflow.
• Further research is essential to confirm the scientific and clinical efficacy of this workflow.

Conclusions:

• The complete digital workflow for complete-arch implant prostheses shows potential but lacks comprehensive clinical and scientific validation.
• Additional clinical studies are recommended to establish the reliability and efficacy of digital workflows in implant dentistry.
• A contemporary digital approach is presented for data acquisition, design, and manufacturing in implant-supported therapies.