Comparative laboratory study of 3D printed denture base resin materials

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials Science
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Emerging 3D printed denture base resins require property assessment.
• Limited data exists on the performance of novel 3D printed denture materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the degree of conversion, hardness, crosslinking density, tensile strength, surface roughness, and wettability of two 3D printed denture base materials against a heat-polymerized control.
• To evaluate VisiJet PXL and OptiPrint Laviva 3D printed materials versus a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) control.

Main Methods:

• Specimens of two 3D printed resins (VisiJet PXL, OptiPrint Laviva) and a PMMA control were fabricated.
• Properties assessed included degree of conversion (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy), Vickers hardness, crosslinking density, tensile strength (universal testing machine), surface roughness (optical profiler), and wettability (contact angle goniometry).

Main Results:

• The PMMA control showed a higher degree of conversion than VisiJet PXL.
• OptiPrint Laviva exhibited higher Vickers hardness than VisiJet PXL and PMMA.
• Tensile strength and elastic modulus were higher for VisiJet PXL and PMMA compared to OptiPrint Laviva.
• Surface roughness varied between materials, with OptiPrint Laviva showing lower values for some parameters.
• No significant differences in wettability were found among the materials.

Conclusions:

• The distinct chemical compositions of the 3D printed resins lead to significant variations in their mechanical and surface properties.
• Further research is needed to correlate these findings with clinical performance in removable dentures and maxillofacial prostheses.