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Can postpolymerization for 3D-printed interim restorations be improved?
Fabio A P Rizzante1, Pedro Magão2, Guilherme Moura3
1Associate Professor and Director of Research, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C.
The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
|December 2, 2022
Summary
Optimizing postpolymerization is key for 3D-printed dental restorations. Using a broadband LED device for 120 seconds significantly enhances flexural strength and color stability in 3D-printed resins.
Area of Science:
- Dental Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Postpolymerization significantly impacts the mechanical and aesthetic properties of 3D-printed dental materials.
- Current postpolymerization techniques are time-consuming, potentially limiting chairside adoption by dentists.
- Limited data exists on how various postpolymerization workflows affect the flexural strength and color stability of 3D-printed interim restorations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the influence of different postpolymerization methods on the flexural strength of 3D-printed resins.
- To assess the impact of various postpolymerization techniques on the color stability of 3D-printed resins.
- To compare the efficacy of different postpolymerization workflows for interim dental restorations.
Main Methods:
- Three distinct 3D-printing resins (CT, DT, CB) were subjected to four postpolymerization methods: a standard polymerization chamber (FC), a broadband LED device at two time intervals (V40, V120), and a custom UV LED chamber (CC).
- Flexural strength was measured using a universal testing machine after polymerization and after 10,000 thermal cycles.
- Color stability was assessed spectrophotometrically at baseline, after 7 days of dry storage, and after 24 hours of artificial aging.
Main Results:
- Flexural strength varied significantly across resins, postpolymerization methods, and times. Resin CT exhibited the highest strength, while DT showed the lowest. Longer LED exposure (V120) generally yielded higher strength.
- Thermocycling negatively impacted flexural strength in specific combinations (e.g., CB with FC/V120, DT with V40).
- Color stability also showed significant differences. Highest color change (ΔE) was observed for DT with V40 after artificial aging, while the lowest was for DT with V120 after 7 days of dry storage.
Conclusions:
- Postpolymerization using a broadband LED device for 120 seconds resulted in superior flexural strength and color stability compared to other tested methods.
- This optimized LED postpolymerization technique offers a promising approach for enhancing the performance of 3D-printed interim dental restorations.
- The findings suggest that specific postpolymerization protocols can significantly improve the clinical viability of 3D-printed dental materials.
