For decades, the fabrication of removable partial denture (RPD) frameworks relied almost exclusively on the conventional lost-wax casting technique using cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys.
While cast Co-Cr frameworks offer exceptional strength and thin profiles, the traditional workflow is labor-intensive, technique-sensitive, and prone to casting inaccuracies—such as alloy shrinkage of up to 2.3% and distortion during manual finishing and polishing.
Furthermore, the visible display of metal clasps remains a significant aesthetic limitation for today’s demanding patients.
In the comprehensive narrative review "Removable Partial Denture Frameworks in the Age of Digital Dentistry: A Review of the Literature" (published in Prosthesis / MDPI), authors Dr. Mohammed A. Akl and Dr. Charles G. Stendahl synthesize the latest evidence surrounding digital manufacturing techniques and novel framework materials.
By comparing additive (3D printing/Selective Laser Melting) and subtractive (CAD/CAM milling) technologies with traditional laboratory protocols, this paper provides clinicians and dental technicians with an evidence-based blueprint for predictable, highly accurate RPD fabrication.
Key Scientific & Clinical Highlights Covered
✔ Overcoming Conventional Casting Limitations: How direct metal 3D printing—such as Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)—eliminates traditional casting shrinkage, reduces internal porosities, and delivers superior framework trueness and clinical fit.
✔ Esthetic High-Performance Polymers (HPPs): Exploring lightweight, non-metallic alternatives like Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and Polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), which provide metal-free aesthetics, excellent biocompatibility, and favorable shock-absorption properties for compromised abutments.
✔ Additive vs. Subtractive CAD/CAM Workflows: Analyzing clinical efficiency, material consumption, and accuracy differences between direct metal printing, milled polymer frameworks, and 3D-printed burnable resin patterns for indirect casting.
✔ Digital Design & Biomechanical Considerations: Practical guidelines for digital surveying, block-out, major connector design, and adjusting clasp flexibility in specialized prosthetic CAD software (e.g., 3Shape, exocad).
Adopting digital workflows for RPD frameworks represents a major leap forward in restorative dentistry—allowing clinicians to streamline laboratory communication, optimize chairside adjustment times, and deliver comfortable, highly esthetic removable prostheses.
📖 Ready to integrate digital RPD workflows and modern materials into your prosthodontic practice? Explore the full literature review, examine comparative manufacturing protocols, and download the complete open-access article in PDF format on MDPI here.
