Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025
Impact of Fabrication Techniques and Polishing Procedures on Surface Roughness of Denture Base Resins
Published on: January 17, 2025
Color and optical properties of 3D printing restorative polymer-based materials: A scoping review
Cristina Espinar1, Alvaro Della Bona2, María M Pérez3
1Stomatology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Objective:
Color and optical properties are particularly crucial to mimic natural tooth. This scoping review aimed to present an overview of the literature published on color and optical properties of 3D printing restorative polymer-based materials. The literature search was performed in MED-LINE/Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science.
Materials And Methods:
The literature search was conducted in the three databases based on the question: "Are the optical properties and color adequately reported on polymer-based 3D printing dental restorative materials studies?" with no restriction on year of publication. Data were reported and synthesized following PRISMA-ScR statement.
Results:
Nine studies fit the inclusion criteria. Five studies focused on evaluating only color stability; three articles assessed the color stability along with mechanical and morphological properties and only one study compared color parameters of 3D printed to conventional polymers. Two studies evaluated translucency parameter and no study was found evaluating scattering, absorption, and transmittance.
Conclusions:
Color and optical properties of 3D printed polymers that can be used in restorative dentistry are not adequately evaluated and characterized. Future studies on the influence of experimental printing conditions should include these physical properties to assist on improving esthetics.
Clinical Significance:
This review shows the scarce literature existing on color and optical properties of 3D printing restorative polymer-based materials. These properties and their study are of outmost importance to create materials that mimic natural tooth to allow clinicians to obtain esthetically pleasant restorations.
