An update on computer-engineered complete dentures: A systematic review on clinical outcomes.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Reports on computer-engineered complete dentures (CECDs) continue to increase. Systematic reviews on clinical outcomes and applications associated with CECDs are lacking in the literature. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the clinical outcomes and applications of CECDs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Electronic searches of the English literature from January 1984 to May 2016 were performed in MEDLINE and Cochrane databases, with the results enriched by hand searches and citation mining to address 2 relevant population intervention comparison outcome (PICO) questions: What are the clinical outcomes associated with CECDs? Are there specific applications and significant advantages for CECDs? RESULTS: A review of the selected articles on CECDs revealed significantly better retention and reduced clinical time for the milled CECDs compared with conventional complete dentures. An advantage associated with CECDs is the possibility of electronically archiving data using digital technology for rapid fabrication. Applications reported in the literature with CECDs were also identified. CONCLUSIONS: A positive trend was seen in the outcomes with CECDs, although patient selection might have also contributed to favorable outcomes. Significantly reduced clinical time, improved retention, and digital archiving were the main advantages associated with CECDs.