CLINICAL PERFORMANCE OF FULLY DIGITAL PROTOCOLS IN FULL-ARCH IMPLANT REHABILITATION: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Abstract

The fully digital workflow has emerged as a major development in full-arch implant rehabilitation because it links cone-beam computed tomography, digital scanning, virtual planning, guided surgery, and CAD/CAM manufacturing within a single restorative chain. Its main promise is not merely technological novelty, but better coordination between surgical and prosthetic stages, shorter treatment time, and improved patient comfort. This extended abstract critically synthesizes the evidence summarized in the source review and focuses on three clinically decisive questions: how accurate the digital chain is, whether that accuracy is sufficient for passive full-arch prosthetic fit, and what limitations still restrict broad routine use. The literature supports the clinical feasibility of fully digital full-arch treatment and shows favorable early outcomes in selected cohorts. However, the evidence also demonstrates a persistent problem of cumulative error, especially in edentulous arches and long-span implant restorations. Photogrammetry is currently the most promising digital method for implant position capture, while guided surgery improves reproducibility of implant placement. Neither approach eliminates the need for critical verification in complex cases. At present, the strongest conclusion is that the fully digital workflow is a selective, high-performance strategy rather than a universal standard for every full-arch patient.