Digital Workflows in Contemporary Prosthodontics: Intraoral Scanning, CAD/CAM, 3D Printing, Clinical Accuracy, Complications, and Current Evidence — A Literature Review

Background: Digital technologies have transformed contemporary prosthodontics through intraoral scanning, computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), additive manufacturing, facial scanning, photogrammetry, and digitally fabricated dentures.These technologies may improve efficiency, patient comfort, reproducibility, and communication between clinician and laboratory.However, clinical accuracy varies according to indication, arch extension, scanner, scan strategy, implant position, material, and manufacturing method.Objective: This literature review aims to summarize current evidence regarding digital workflows in fixed, implant, and removable prosthodontics, focusing on intraoral scanning, CAD/CAM, 3D printing, clinical accuracy, complications, limitations, and future perspectives.Methods: A structured literature review was designed using peer-reviewed evidence related to digital impressions, intraoral scanners, CAD/CAM, additive manufacturing, 3D printing, implant prosthodontics, complete dentures, and full-arch rehabilitation.Priority was given to systematic reviews, meta-analyses, comparative clinical studies, and recent evidence.Results: Digital workflows demonstrate clinically acceptable accuracy for many tooth-supported and implant-supported indications.In full-arch implant rehabilitation, recent systematic reviews report promising accuracy for intraoral scanning, although results remain heterogeneous and depend on implant angulation, scanner technology, scan strategy, and measurement methodology [1-3].Digitally fabricated complete dentures show increasing clinical potential, but technical challenges remain regarding impression accuracy, occlusal registration, esthetics, material properties, and adaptation [4].CAD/CAM and 3D printing continue to expand restorative possibilities, although conventional methods remain relevant in selected complex cases.Conclusions: Digital workflows have become an integral component of contemporary prosthodontics.Their greatest benefits include efficiency, data reproducibility, patient comfort, and integration of diagnostic and restorative information.Nevertheless, indication-specific limitations remain, particularly in complete-arch and edentulous rehabilitation.Digital technology should therefore complement sound prosthodontic principles rather than replace them.