Effect of 3D printing technology and print orientation on the trueness of additively manufactured definitive casts with different tooth preparations
Münir Demirel, Almira Ada Diken Türksayar, Mustafa Borga Dönmez, Burak Yılmaz
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the fabrication trueness of additively manufactured maxillary definitive casts with various tooth preparations fabricated with different 3-dimensional (3D) printers and print orientations. METHODS: A maxillary typodont with tooth preparations for a posterior 3-unit fixed partial denture, lateral incisor crown, central incisor and canine veneers, first premolar and second molar inlays, and a first molar crown was digitized with an industrial scanner. This scan file was used to fabricate definitive casts with a digital light processing (DLP) or stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer in different orientations (0-degree, 30-degree, 45-degree, and 90-degree) (n = 7). All casts were digitized with the same scanner, and the deviations within each preparation site were evaluated. Generalized linear model analysis was used for statistical analysis (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The interaction between the 3D printer and the print orientation affected measured deviations within all preparations (P ≤ 0.001) except for the lateral incisor crown and canine veneer (P ≥ 0.094), which were affected only by the main factors (P < 0.001). DLP-90 mostly led to the highest and DLP-0 mostly resulted in the lowest deviations within posterior tooth preparations (P ≤ 0.014). DLP-30 led to the lowest deviations within the first premolar inlay and DLP-45 led to the lowest deviations within the central incisor veneer preparation (P ≤ 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Posterior preparations of tested casts had the highest trueness with DLP-0 or DLP-30, while central incisor veneer preparations had the highest trueness with DLP-45. DLP-90 led to the lowest trueness for most of the tooth preparations. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Definitive casts with tooth preparations fabricated with the tested DLP 3D printer and the print orientation adjusted on tooth preparation may enable well-fitting restorations. However, 90-degree print orientation should be avoided with this 3D printer, as it led to the lowest fabrication trueness.