The aim of the current paper is to review the available literature reporting on comparative studies of heat-cured resins and three-dimensionally printed biomaterials for denture bases in terms of their composition, properties, fabrication techniques and clinical performance. The methodology included applying a search strategy, defining inclusion and exclusion criteria, selecting studies to summarize the results. Searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases were performed independently by three reviewers to gather literature published between 2018 and 2021. A total of 135 titles were obtained from the electronic databases, and the application of exclusion criteria resulted in the identification of 42 articles pertaining to conventional and 3D printed technology for removable dentures. The main disadvantages of the heat-cured resins for removable dentures are that they require lots of special equipment, skilled personnel and time. Emerging technologies, such as 3D printed dentures, have the potential to alleviate these problems allowing for faster patient rehabilitation. With the development of digital dentistry, it is becoming increasingly necessary to use 3D printed resin materials for the manufacturing of removable dentures. However, further research is required on the existing and developing materials to allow for advancement and increase its application in removable prosthodontics.

Background: This in vitro study aimed to investigate and evaluate the values of water sorption and water solubility of four types of denture base polymers—3D-printed NextDent 3D Denture + (NextDent, 3D Systems, Soesterberg, The Netherlands), CAD/CAM milled Ivotion Base (Ivotion Denture System, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein), PMMA conventional Vertex BasiQ 20 (Vertex Dental, 3D Systems, Soesterberg, The Netherlands), and conventional heat-cured BMS (BMS Dental Srl, Rome, Italy)—which were subjected to artificial aging. Materials and methods: 200 specimens were created (n = 50), dried, and weighed accurately. They were immersed in artificial saliva (T1 = 7 days, T2 = 14 days, T3 = 1 month) and re-weighed after water absorption. After desiccation at 37 °C for 24 h and then at 23 ± 1 °C for 1 h, samples were weighed again. Next, thermocycling (100 h, 5000 cycles, 5–55 °C) was performed, and the water sorption and solubility were re-measured. IBM SPSS Statistics 0.26 was used for data analysis, revealing a direct correlation between water sorption and material type. Thermocycling at 55 °C increased water sorption for BMS and Vertex BasiQ 20. In conclusion, NextDent’s 3D-printed resin had higher water sorption values throughout the study. Water solubility averages decreased over time, reaching the lowest in the 30-day period for CAD/CAM milled dental resin Ivotion Base. The artificial aging had no effect on Ivotion Base and NextDent’s water sorption. Thermocycling did not affect the solubility of the materials tested. The conducted study acknowledges the great possibilities of dental resins for additive and subtractive manufacturing for the purposes of removable prosthetics in daily dental practice.

Modern media often portray CAD/CAM technology as widely utilized in the fabrication of dental prosthetics. This study presents a comparative analysis of the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) polymers and conventional polymers commonly utilized in prosthetic dentistry. With the increasing adoption of CAD/CAM technology in dental laboratories and practices, understanding the differences in material properties is crucial for informed decision-making in prosthodontic treatment planning. Through a narrative review of the literature and empirical data, this study evaluates the mechanical strength, durability, esthetics, and biocompatibility of CAD/CAM polymers in comparison to traditional polymers. Furthermore, it examines the implications of these findings on the clinical outcomes and long-term success of prosthetic restorations. The results provide valuable insights into the advantages and limitations of CAD/CAM polymers, informing clinicians and researchers about their suitability for various dental prosthetic applications. This study underscores the considerable advantages of CAD/CAM polymers over conventional ones in terms of mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and esthetics for prosthetic dentistry. CAD/CAM technology offers improved mechanical strength and durability, potentially enhancing the long-term performance of dental prosthetics, while the biocompatibility of these polymers makes them suitable for a broad patient demographic, reducing the risk of adverse reactions. The practical implications of these findings for dental technicians and dentists are significant, as understanding these material differences enables tailored treatment planning to meet individual patient needs and preferences. Integration of CAD/CAM technology into dental practices can lead to more predictable outcomes and heightened patient satisfaction with prosthetic restorations.

This study investigated the colour stability of three dimensional (3D)-printed and conventional denture teeth after immersion in different colourants. A total of 60 artificial maxillary central incisors were selected from three types of materials: 3D-printed dental resin (NextDent, 3D Systems, Soesterberg, The Netherlands), prefabricated acrylic teeth in Ivostar Shade (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein), and SpofaDent Plus in shade A2 (SpofaDental, Jičín, Czechia). These were immersed in four types of colourants at room temperature (23 °C ± 1 °C), including artificial saliva (pH = 6.8) as a control group, coffee, red wine, and Coca-Cola (n = 5). The temperature and the pH of the colouring agents were maintained throughout all immersion periods. After 7 days (T1), 14 days (T2), and 21 days (T3), the ∆E values were measured with a SpectroShade Micro (SpectroShade, Oxnard, CA, USA) spectrophotometer. Their means were then calculated and compared by two-way ANOVA. The independent factors, immersion time and different staining solutions, as well as the interaction between these factors, significantly influenced ΔE. The highest and the lowest mean ∆Es were recorded for prefabricated teeth in red wine, and 3D-printed teeth in artificial saliva, respectively. All the specimens demonstrated an increased colour change at T1 compared to T3, and the difference in mean ∆E was statistically significant.

Digital technologies have significantly advanced implant dentistry, refining diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical precision, and prosthetic rehabilitation. This review explores recent developments, emphasizing accuracy, efficiency, and clinical impact. A literature analysis identifies key innovations, such as digital planning, guided surgery, dynamic navigation, digital impressions and CAD/CAM prosthetics. Digital workflows enhance implant placement by improving precision and reducing deviations compared to freehand techniques. Dynamic navigation provides real-time guidance, offering accuracy comparable to static guides and proving benefits in complex cases. Digital impressions demonstrate high precision, which can match or, in some scenarios, surpass conventional methods, though conventional impressions remain the gold standard for full-arch cases. CAD/CAM technology optimizes prosthetic fit, aesthetics, and material selection. Artificial intelligence and machine learning contribute to treatment planning and predictive analytics, yet challenges persist, including high costs, the need for specialized training, and long-term clinical validation. This review underscores the advantages of digital approaches—improved accuracy, better communication, and minimally invasive procedures—while addressing existing limitations. Emerging technologies, such as AI, augmented reality, and 3D printing, are expected to further transform implantology. Continued research is crucial to fully integrate digital advancements and enhance patient outcomes.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the dimensional changes and ultimate tensile strength in three polyamide materials for denture bases fabrication through injection molding, subjected to artificial aging and different storage conditions. A total of 333 test specimens fabricated from Biosens (BS; Perflex, Netanya, Israel), Bre.flex 2nd edition (BF; Bredent, Senden, Germany) and ThermoSens (TS; Vertex Dental B.V., Soesterberg, The Netherlands)—n = 111 per material—were equally divided into three groups (n = 37) based on different treatments and storage conditions. Test samples allocated to the “Control group” were not artificially aged and stored in water for 24 h. Both “Treatment 1 group” and “Treatment 2 group” were subjected to thermocycling, the former dehydrated and the latter stored in water between cycle-sets. Linear changes and ultimate tensile strength were measured and analyzed for storage condition and material influence on the outcome variables. A Welch ANOVA test with Games–Howell post-hoc analysis was used to compare the influence of treatments across different materials. Significant differences were found for all three included materials with p values ranging from <0.05 to <0.001 for linear dimensional changes. The magnitude of alterations varied and was large for BS (Perflex, Israel) (ω² = 0.62) and BF (Bredent, Germany) (ω² = 0.47) and small but significant for TS (Vertex Dental B.V., The Netherlands) (ω² = 0.05). However, results seem to fall into clinically acceptable range. Significant differences were also observed for the ultimate tensile strength test with the same range of p-values. All three materials showed different initial ultimate tensile strengths and varying reaction to artificial aging and storage with the lowest alterations observed for BF (Bredent, Germany) (ω² = 0.05). Within the limitation of this study, it can be concluded that all three materials show different dimensional and mechanical properties when subjected to artificial aging and different storage. Although linear dimensions show significant changes, they seem to be clinically irrelevant, whereas the change in ultimate tensile strength after only 6-month equivalent clinical use was substantial for BS (Perflex, Israel) and TS (Vertex Dental B.V., The Netherlands).