Surface Characteristics of Milled and 3D Printed Denture Base Materials Following Polishing and Coating: An In-Vitro Study

Abstract

(1) Background: To date, no information on the polishability of milled and 3D-printed complete denture bases has been provided, which is relevant in terms of plaque accumulation. (2) Methods: three groups (n = 30) were manufactured using the cold-polymerization polymethilmethacrilate, milling (SM) and 3D printing (AM). 10 specimens of each group were left untreated (reference). 10 more specimens were pre-polished (intermediate polishing) and 10 final specimens were highgloss polished. An additional 20 specimens were 3D printed and coated with the liquid resin (coated), 10 of which were additionally polished (coated + polished). For each group Ra and Rz values, gloss value and REM images were obtained. (3). The “highgloss-polished” specimens showed statistically lower Ra and Rz values in the SM, followed by AM and conventional groups. In the AM group statistically lower surfaces roughness was revealed for highgloss-polished, “coated + polished”, and “coated” specimens, respectively. (4) Conclusions: The milled specimens demonstrated superiors surface characteristics than 3D printed and conventionally produced after polishing. The polished specimens demonstrated superior surface characteristics over coated specimens. However, the surface roughness by both polished and coated specimens was within the clinically relevant threshold of 0.2 µm.

Strength and Surface Properties of a 3D‐Printed Denture Base Polymer

“…The surface roughness values of non‐thermal cycled 3D‐printed resin fell within the maximum clinical acceptable value of 0.2 μm 41,42 . The low surface roughness of 3D‐printed resin might be related to the thickness of the printed layers being in the range of 50 μm/layer.…”

3D-Printed vs. Heat-Polymerizing and Autopolymerizing Denture Base Acrylic Resins

“…3D-printing technology has been used to create a wide range of dental devices such as surgical guides, provisional crowns, dental splints, and denture bases [ 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Due to its superior resolution, precision, quick curing, and low cost, digital light-processing (DLP) is one of the most widely used technologies for 3D printing [ 12 , 13 ].…”

Printing Accuracy and Flexural Properties of Different 3D-Printed Denture Base Resins

“…As the technology of 3D printing rapidly develops and has wider applications, more technological improvements can be anticipated. This would make the fabrication of well-fitting 3D-printed dentures an alternative to conventional and milling methods [ 3 , 4 ]. Additive 3D printing reported several advantages over subtractive milling, such as the ability to produce complex shapes, being more economical due to the lower material waste [ 5 ], and the fact that it does not demonstrate rotary burr wear [ 6 , 7 ].…”