Study compares strength of 3D-printed dental prostheses

Dental Tribune International

Fri. 31. January 2025

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RIZE, Turkey: As the use of 3D printers in dental clinics and laboratories increases, dental teams must navigate the various additive manufacturing technologies and decide which is best for their work. A recent systematic review and network meta-analysis by researchers at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University in Rize has compared the flexural strength of provisional fixed dental prostheses made using different 3D-printing technologies. The results provide useful insights for dental professionals regarding which is most suitable for producing durable restorations.

The researchers selected 11 in vitro studies, nine of them further contributing to the network meta-analysis. All the studies provided detailed and comparable 3D-printing parameters, such as layer thickness, printing angle and post-polymerisation protocols. The 3D-printing technologies used in the selected studies were stereolithography (SLA), liquid crystal display (LCD), selective laser sintering (SLS), digital light synthesis (DLS), fused deposition modelling (FDM) and digital light processing (DLP).

The ranking of these 3D-printing technologies according to flexural strength showed that SLS performed the best, followed by SLA. DLS and FDM offered moderate strength, and LCD and DLP, the weakest. These results indicate that SLS and SLA are the preferred choices for the fabrication of stronger and more durable provisional restorations and that restorations manufactured using LCD and DLP may be more prone to fracture under stress.

The various 3D-printing technologies have advantages and limitations that can influence their suitability for specific clinical applications. SLA and SLS offer superior flexural strength owing to their ability to produce dense, homogeneous structures with minimal microstructural defects, enhancing mechanical durability and fracture resistance. Although SLA achieves high precision and surface quality, it requires thorough post-polymerisation, whereas SLS provides the highest flexural strength but has high costs and complex powder handling requirements. In contrast, DLP and LCD offer faster printing speeds and affordability, but their prints may have micro-voids, weaker interlayer bonding and lower durability. The most economical option, FDM produces prints with lower surface quality and flexural strength, making it less suitable for demanding clinical applications.

In discussing the results, the authors commented that a comparison between additive and subtractive methods of manufacturing provisional fixed dental prostheses provides context to the results of the study. They highlighted a 2023 study that emphasised that PMMA resins for milling exhibited better mechanical properties than 3D-printing resins did. A systematic review from the same year found that, compared with subtractive techniques, 3D-printing technologies produced prostheses with lower resistance to mechanical pressure, the authors pointed out. They emphasised that “the versatility and cost-effectiveness of 3D printing, however, make it an attractive option for cases requiring rapid fabrication or unique geometries”.

The authors noted that their findings corroborate the evidence supporting the use of SLA and SLS systems. However, they also cautioned that “further studies are necessary to validate these findings under standardised and clinically relevant conditions, ensuring that each technology is evaluated using consistent parameters and materials”.

The study, titled “Effect of different 3D-printing systems on the flexural strength of provisional fixed dental prostheses: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of in vitro studies” , was published online on 16 January 2025 in BMC Oral Health.

Topics:

Prosthodontics

Tags:

3D printing Additive manufacturing Dental prostheses Dental research Provisionals

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