A Proposed In Vitro Methodology for Assessing the Accuracy of Three-Dimensionally Printed Dental Models and the Impact of Storage on Dimensional Stability
Li Hsin Lin, Joshua Granatelli, Frank Alifui‐Segbaya, Laura Drake, Derek Smith, Khaled E. Ahmed
Abstract
The objective of this study was to propose a standardised methodology for assessing the accuracy of three-dimensional printed (3DP) full-arch dental models and the impact of storage using two printing technologies. A reference model (RM) comprising seven spheres was 3D-printed using digital light processing (MAX UV, MAX) and stereolithography (Form 2, F2) five times per printer. The diameter of the spheres (n = 35) represented the dimensional trueness (DT), while twenty-one vectors (n = 105) extending between the sphere centres represented the full-arch trueness (FT). Samples were measured at two (T1) and six (T2) weeks using a commercial profilometer to assess their dimensional stability. Significant (p < 0.05) contraction in DT occurred at T1 and T2 with a medium deviation of 108 µm and 99 µm for MAX, and 117 µm and 118 µm for F2, respectively. No significant (p > 0.05) deviations were detected for FT. The detected median deviations were evenly distributed across the arch for MAX at <50 µm versus F2, where the greatest error of 278 µm was in the posterior region. Storage did not significantly impact the model’s DT in contrast to FT (p < 0.05). The proposed methodology was able to assess the accuracy of 3DP. Storage significantly impacted the full-arch accuracy of the models up to 6 weeks post-printing.