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Influence of different post-washing solutions on the mechanical and surface properties of 3D-printed material for
Adolfo Di Fiore1, Edoardo Stellini2, Hussain D Alsayed3
1Department of Neurosciences, School of Dentistry, Section of Prosthodontics and Digital Dentistry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Objective:
To assess the influence of three different wash solutions on the flexural strength (FS), elastic modulus (E), surface microhardness (VHN), surface roughness, water sorption (Wsp), and solubility (Wsl) of a 3D-printed glass-reinforced composite resin (3D-CR).
Methods:
VarseoSmile Crown Plus was printed at a 50 µm layer thickness and a 90° build angle. Three test groups were formed based on the ultrasonic bath wash solution: InovaPrint Wash (Group 1), 96 % ethanol (Group 2), and 90 % denatured ethyl alcohol (Group 3). Thirty bar-shaped specimens (25 × 2 × 2 mm3), ten per group, were produced to measure FS and E using a three-point bending test, while five disk-shaped specimens (Ø 15 × 3 mm2) per group were employed to evaluate VHN. Both tests were conducted under dry conditions. Additionally, another set of five specimens (Ø 15 × 3 mm2) per group was used to assess surface roughness before and after simulated toothbrushing, while five disk-shaped specimens (Ø 15 × 1 mm2) were utilized to determine Wsp and Wsl over 28 days. Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni post hoc tests were applied for statistical group comparisons.
Results:
The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant difference between the groups in terms of FS (p = .008), E (p = .004) and in VHN (p = .001). Variations among groups were notable in Wsp and Wsl at 21 and 28 days (p = .001). Regarding the surface roughness, the specimens exhibited values surpassing the clinical acceptability threshold (0.2 μm) before and after brushing.
Conclusions:
These findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate washing protocols to optimize the long-term performance of 3D-printed composite resins.
Clinical Implication:
Optimizing the washing protocol can mitigate the degradation of mechanical and surface properties in 3D-printed composite resins. This is a critical consideration for ensuring the long-term success of definitive restorations.
