Evaluation of the trueness and precision of ceramic laminate veneers fabricated with four computer-aided manufacturing methods

Abstract

The accuracy of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) methods plays an important role in the clinical success of ceramic veneers. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different CAD/CAM methods, including subtractive, hybrid, and additive manufacturing, on the trueness and precision of ceramic veneers. A typodont central incisor was prepared for a laminate veneer, followed by the design of a veneer with CAD software. Ceramic veneers were fabricated with four different CAD/CAM methods, including milled lithium disilicate, pressed lithium disilicate with three-dimensional (3D) printed wax patterns, milled zirconia, and 3D-printed zirconia. All veneers were scanned and imported to 3D inspection software for trueness and precision evaluation. Laminate veneers fabricated with all investigated methods exhibited clinically acceptable trueness and precision. Pressed lithium disilicate veneers from 3D-printed wax patterns and 3D-printed zirconia veneers showed lower precision of the fitting surfaces compared to their milled counterparts.