Applications of Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing in Pediatric Orthodontics: A Scoping Review

Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology has been increasingly incorporated into dentistry, expanding the possibilities of digital workflows through greater precision, customization, and optimization of clinical procedures. In pediatric orthodontics, CAD/CAM has been applied in different clinical contexts, although its use is still evolving. This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize the applications of CAD/CAM in preventive and interceptive orthodontics in children, considering the devices used and the main reported outcomes. The search was conducted in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and Google Scholar databases up to April 2026, with no restriction on publication year. Ultimately, 18 studies were considered eligible, including randomized clinical trials, prospective and retrospective clinical studies, case series, and case reports. The main applications involved the fabrication of space maintainers, functional devices, fixed orthodontic prostheses, interceptive removable appliances, and nasoalveolar molding in neonates with cleft lip and palate. The included studies demonstrated heterogeneous clinical outcomes, particularly regarding the survival of digital devices compared with conventional methods. Overall, the available evidence suggests that CAD/CAM technology may provide advantages related to device customization, adequate clinical adaptation, reduced clinical time, and optimization of clinical management in selected clinical contexts. However, comparative studies reported inconsistent survival outcomes, precluding definitive conclusions regarding the comparative clinical performance of CAD/CAM and conventional approaches. The available evidence remains limited, with a predominance of descriptive studies, highlighting the need for well-designed prospective studies with greater methodological rigor and long-term follow-up to better define the clinical impact of CAD/CAM applications in pediatric orthodontics.