A review on Vat Photopolymerization 3D-printing processes for dental application

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Additive Manufacturing
• Biocompatibility

Background:

• Vat photopolymerization (VP) technologies are becoming integral to dental practice.
• A complete digital workflow in dentistry is anticipated in the future.
• Understanding VP materials is crucial for patient safety and cost-effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a critical overview of VP research in dentistry.
• To identify research gaps and recommend future directions.
• To assess the current state of VP for dental applications.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of articles (2005-2022) from Scopus and PubMed.
• Patent search in Patentscope (2000-2021).
• Analysis of publication activity and research trends.

Main Results:

• Research activity in VP for dentistry has been identified.
• Key areas for future research include mechanical properties, biocompatibility, antimicrobial properties, accuracy, and surface characteristics of 3D-printed dental resins.
• A need for more comprehensive research was identified.

Conclusions:

• Vat photopolymerization is established in dental practice, with a trend towards digital workflows.
• Further research into VP materials is vital for patient safety and economic viability.
• More studies are required to advance the field and enable reliable comparisons.