ATHENS, Greece: The research base for 3D printing of definitive restorations is fragmented across material classes, printing technologies and restoration types. A new scoping review has synthesised the evidence for tooth-supported restorations. Unlike earlier reviews focused on individual material classes or narrower sets of outcomes, the study provides a broader view of where research is concentrated and where evidence remains sparse.
The scoping review examined evidence on 3D-printed resin- and ceramic-based materials for definitive tooth-supported restorations, including crowns, multi-unit fixed dental prostheses, endocrowns, veneers, overlays and onlays. The researchers identified 111 eligible studies, but the evidence was predominantly in vitro, and there were only six clinical studies, including one randomised controlled trial. Most of the research concerned crowns, resin and resin composite materials and zirconia-based ceramics, and vat photopolymerisation technologies.
The findings suggest that 3D-printed restorations can perform comparably with milled restorations in several important areas. Across the literature, 3D-printed restorations were frequently reported to have clinically acceptable dimensional accuracy, marginal and internal fit, and fracture resistance. The evidence was most consistent for zirconia.
Recent clinical evidence is also beginning to support these findings. A 2026 prospective clinical study followed 30 posterior crowns fabricated by 3D printing for two years and reported a 93% survival rate and an 87% success rate. Four crowns fractured, and four showed significant colour change, highlighting that promising clinical performance does not yet establish the long-term durability of 3D-printed definitive restorations.
These fracture and colour findings are consistent with the review’s broader findings for 3D-printed resin-based materials. The review identified lower fracture resistance and colour instability as recurring limitations. Clinical studies included in the review have reported acceptable function alongside progressive discoloration and occlusal wear over two years.
The review also highlighted an important issue: performance depends heavily on how restorations are printed and processed. Build orientation, layer thickness, post-processing protocols and digital design variables can all influence accuracy, fit and mechanical performance. The authors concluded that standardising printing and post-processing workflows will be a prerequisite for 3D printing to be adopted reliably for definitive restorations.
For clinicians, perhaps the most important finding is the gap between laboratory performance and clinical evidence. The review concluded that current research supports the technical feasibility of 3D-printed definitive restorations far more strongly than it supports their long-term clinical durability. The authors recommended longer-term randomised clinical trials, standardised manufacturing protocols and further work to address material-specific limitations to support clinical use.
The article, titled “Three-dimensional printed materials for definitive ceramic and resin restorations: a scoping review”, was published online on 1 September 2026 in Materials.
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