Physicomechanical properties of cobalt-chromium removable partial denture palatal major connectors fabricated by selective laser melting

Evaluation of two printing techniques for maxillary removable partial denture frameworks

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has gained popularity in producing removable partial denture (RPD) frameworks, including direct 3D printing of the metal framework and framework printing using castable resin, subsequently cast and processed. However, whether the technology is sufficiently accurate and precise to supersede traditional methods is unclear.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the accuracy and precision of 2 different methods in the fabrication of RPD frameworks, including 3D printing by selective laser melting (SLM) and digital light processing (DLP).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Maxillary casts were digitized to design RPD frameworks. Thereby, 8 frameworks were produced for each group. The SLM group underwent a thermal finishing process after printing. In the DLP group, castable resin was printed but not cast. All frameworks were scanned to generate digital files, which were then compared with the original design using a metrology software program and manual measurements. Statistical analysis was executed using the t-test for independent specimens (α=.05) and by comparing heatmaps of the overlaid meshes.

RESULTS

The analysis of the frameworks indicated minor deviations across all specimens. Regarding accuracy, there were no significant differences between the groups (P=.986). The SLM frameworks demonstrated greater precision, with absolute deviation values of 0.13 mm compared with 0.17 mm in the DLP group (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings underscored a high consistency between the 2 printing techniques, demonstrating a sufficiently advanced production process to yield predictable results. While the accuracy of both techniques was at a comparably high level and did not differ significantly, the SLM technique delivered RPDs with higher precision.

Accuracy and surface roughness of Co-Cr partial denture frameworks with different digital fabrication methods

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Traditional removable partial denture (RPD) manufacture is being phased out in favor of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) techniques and rapid prototyping (RP), which provide more efficient methods of producing RPD frameworks. However, studies comparing the accuracy and surface roughness of these approaches on RPD frameworks are still scarce.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the accuracy and surface roughness of class I cobalt chromium (Co-Cr) removable partial denture frameworks digitally constructed using 2 different CAD-CAM technologies: direct milling (DM) and selective laser melting (SLM).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An educational maxillary stone cast was scanned to create a resin model after rest seat preparation. The resin model was scanned, and an RPD framework was digitally designed. Sixteen frameworks were constructed (n=8). Two groups were defined. In the direct milling (DM) group, the standard tessellation language (STL) file of the RPD framework was used to mill the design from a Co-Cr blank directly. In the selective laser melting (SLM) group, the STL file of the RPD framework was used to print the design from Co-Cr powder using the selective laser melting technique. Geomagic Control X software program was used to measure the accuracy of the fabricated frameworks. Surface roughness was tested using optical profilometry. An unpaired t test was used to compare the 2 groups (α=.05).

RESULTS

The DM group showed significantly higher mean ±standard deviation accuracy (189 ±9 µm) (P<.001) compared with the SLM group (456 ±122 µm). Regarding the surface roughness, the DM group (0.157 ±0.001 mm) showed significantly lower surface roughness (P<.001) compared with the SLM group (0.256 ±0.001 mm).

CONCLUSIONS

The direct milling fabrication technique enabled the fabrication of Co-Cr RPD frameworks with higher accuracy and less surface roughness when compared with the 3-dimensionally printed SLM technique.

Effect of different digital technology on the adaptation and retention of Co-Cr partial denture frameworks

PURPOSE

To evaluate the overall adaptation and retention of class I cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) removable partial denture (RPD) frameworks using three different computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technologies: Indirect wax milling with lost wax technique (LWT), direct milling, and selective laser melting (SLM) technique.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An educational maxillary stone model (Kennedy class I) was scanned after preparing rest seats to create a resin model. The resin model was scanned, and the RPD framework was digitally designed and saved as a standard tessellation language (STL) file. Twenty-four Co-Cr RPD frameworks were then constructed and divided into three groups (n = 8) based on fabrication technique: Group A (indirect wax milling with LWT), Group B (direct milling), and Group C (selective laser melting). In Group A, the STL file was used to mill the design from castable resin blanks which were then cast by the LWT. In Group B, the STL file was used to mill the design from the Co-Cr blank directly. Finally in Group C, the STL file was used to print the design from Co-Cr powder using SLM 3D printed technique. Geomagic Control X software was used to measure the overall adaptation of the fabricated RPD frameworks, Retention was also tested using a universal testing machine. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare the three groups then the Tukey HSD post-hoc test was used for pair-wise comparisons. The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

Regarding the overall adaptation, Group B (0.71 ± 0.02 mm) showed significantly higher adaptation than Group A (0.96 ± 0.06 mm) and Group C (1.05 ± 0.16 mm). Regarding retention, Group B (2.03 ± 0.34 N) showed significantly higher retention than Group A (1.00 ± 0.13 N) and Group C (0.78 ±0.17 N).

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of this in vitro study, Co-Cr RPD frameworks fabricated by direct milling technique revealed the best adaptation and retention.

Fundamental Properties and Clinical Application of 3D-Printed Bioglass Porcelain Fused to Metal Dental Restoration

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mechanical properties and clinical fitness of 3D-printed bioglass porcelain fused to metal (PFM) dental crowns. To evaluate the mechanical properties, tensile strength, Vickers microhardness, shear bond strength, and surface roughness tests of the SLM printed Co-Cr alloy was conducted. A right mandibular 1st molar tooth was prepared for a single dental crown (n = 10). For a three-unit metal crown and bridge, the right mandibular first premolar and first molar were prepared. Bioglass porcelain was fired to fabricate PFM dental restorations. A clinical gap was observed and measured during each of the four times porcelain was fired. A statistical analysis was conducted. The SLM technique showed the largest statistically significant tensile strength and a 0.2% yield strength value. The milling technique had the lowest statistically significant compressive strength value. The shear bond strength and surface roughness showed no statistically significant difference between the fabricated method. There was a statistically significant change in marginal discrepancy according to the porcelain firing step. The casting technique showed the greatest statistically significant margin discrepancy value. The SLM method showed better fitness than the traditional casting method and showed better mechanical properties as a dental material.

Mechanical properties and accuracy of removable partial denture frameworks fabricated by digital and conventional techniques: A systematic review

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Providing a removable partial denture (RPD) can be a complex, time-consuming, and error-prone procedure. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) techniques have shown promising clinical outcomes; however, the influence of manufacturing techniques on the properties of RPD components is unclear.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the accuracy and mechanical properties of RPD components fabricated with conventional and digital methods.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) and was registered on the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42022353993). An electronic search was conducted on PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library in August 2022. Only in vitro studies comparing the digital with the lost-wax casting technique were included. The quality of the studies was assessed by using the methodological index for nonrandomized studies (MINORS) scale.

RESULTS

Of the 17 selected studies, 5 evaluated the accuracy of RPD components as well as the mechanical properties, 5 studies evaluated only the component accuracy, and another 7 evaluated only the mechanical properties. The accuracy was similar regardless of the technique, with discrepancies within clinically acceptable values (50 to 426.3 μm). The surface roughness was higher for 3D-printed clasps and lower for milled clasps (P<.05). The metal alloy significantly influenced the porosity, with the highest number of pores obtained by casting for Ti clasps and by rapid prototyping for Co-Cr clasps.

CONCLUSIONS

In vitro studies showed that the digital technique provided similar accuracy to that of the conventional technique within a clinically acceptable range. The manufacturing technique influenced the mechanical properties of RPD components.