Digital functionally generated path vs. traditional CAD-CAM methods for single posterior crowns: An in vivo study of...

To determine the effect of using the digital functionally generated path (FGP) method and the traditional computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) method to design and mill single posterior crowns in terms of patient satisfaction and crown volume analysis.

An intraoral scanner (IOS) was used to record maxillary and mandibular arch scans and record buccal and laterotrusive records of thirteen selected participants. Two zirconia crowns were fabricated for each patient: a conventional crown, designed using only the buccal interocclusal record, and a new technique crown, where adjustments were made using both buccal and laterotrusive records. After milling and sintering, adhering to the manufacturer's instructions, patient satisfaction was analyzed using Likert's 3-point scale, and crown volume was analyzed using Blender software. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed for analyzing differences between groups (p-value ≤ 0.05).

Conventional crowns had a Likert scale score of 1.00, significantly higher than the new technique crowns' median score of 0.0 (p < 0.05). Conventional crowns had a mean volume of 161.9 ± 15.51 mm³, significantly larger than new technique crowns (148.6 ± 12.71 mm³, p = 0.025).

CAD-CAM zirconia crowns designed with consideration of the FGP technique exhibited superiority in terms of patient satisfaction when contrasted with CAD-CAM zirconia crowns designed based on static occlusion data. Utilizing virtual mandibular movement replication may serve as a reliable method for locating interferences and adjusting zirconia crown designs.