Fluxo Digital CAD/CAM na Reabilitação Oral: Avanços, Desafios e Perspectivas Clínicas

Abstract

The CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) digital workflow represents one of the most significant technological innovations incorporated into contemporary dentistry, promoting substantial advances in oral rehabilitation through the integration of intraoral scanning, virtual treatment planning, and computer-aided manufacturing of indirect restorations. This study aimed to review the scientific literature regarding the advances, challenges, and clinical perspectives associated with the use of the CAD/CAM digital workflow in oral rehabilitation. A literature review was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO databases, including articles published in English and Portuguese between 2022 and 2026. The analyzed studies demonstrated that the implementation of the digital workflow provides greater restorative accuracy, improved marginal adaptation, optimized prosthetic planning, reduced clinical and laboratory time, enhanced treatment predictability, and improved communication among dentists, dental laboratories, and patients. However, its widespread adoption is still limited by the high initial investment in equipment and software, the learning curve required for efficient use of digital systems, and the need for continuous technological updates. It is concluded that the CAD/CAM digital workflow is a well-established and continuously evolving technology with the potential to transform oral rehabilitation by enabling more accurate, predictable, efficient, and patient-centered treatments.