Digital innovation in prosthodontics for older adults

Digital innovation in prosthodontics for older adultsDear Readers, The United Nations projects that one in six people will be older than 65 years by 2050, with Europe and Japan already reaching this threshold [1].The intersection of digital technology and geriatric oral health represents one of the most transformative frontiers in contemporary prosthodontics.While digital dentistry has already redefined accuracy, efficiency, aesthetics, and workflows in younger and middle-aged cohorts, its true social impact will be measured by how effectively it addresses the functional and psychosocial needs of older adults.As longevity increases and multimorbidity becomes the norm, prosthodontic rehabilitation must evolve beyond replacing missing teeth to restoring autonomy, dignity, and quality of life.Digital innovation, when ethically and inclusively implemented, offers a powerful instrument to achieve this.Over the past decade, digital dentistry has transitioned from a laboratory curiosity to a mainstream clinical reality.Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM), intraoral scanning, digital facebow records, and 3D-printing have radically shortened production chains and improved reproducibility.In prosthodontics, this has yielded several paradigm shifts:• Digital complete dentures offer good fit, predictable occlusion, and material homogeneity[2].• Virtual articulators simulate mandibular dynamics, minimizing trial errors[3].• Facial scanning and digital smile design enable prosthesis planning that integrates function and aesthetics[4].• Additive manufacturing allows lightweight frameworks, precise try-ins, and rapid duplication of lost prostheses [5].