Comparison of Fracture Resistance of 3D-Printed Versus Conventional Resin-Based Dental Crowns
Keywords:
Additive manufacturing; Dental crowns; Digital dentistry; Fracture resistance; Polymer resins; Prosthodontics; Three-dimensional printing.Abstract
BACKGROUND: Advancements in additive manufacturing have transformed restorative dentistry, offering digital precision and efficiency. However, questions remain regarding whether 3D-printed resin-based crowns possess equivalent mechanical strength to conventionally fabricated counterparts. Assessing fracture resistance is critical to validating 3D printing as a viable clinical alternative.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the fracture resistance of 3D-printed resin-based dental crowns with conventionally fabricated resin crowns under standardized in-vitro laboratory conditions.
METHODOLOGY: An in-vitro experimental study was conducted across private hospitals in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan. Twenty-eight extracted human premolars were prepared for full-coverage crowns and divided equally into two groups: 3D-printed resin-based crowns and conventionally fabricated resin-based crowns. All crowns were cemented with dual-cure resin cement, thermocycled for 5,000 cycles, and subjected to mechanical preloading. Fracture testing was performed using a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-test at a significance level of p < 0.05.
RESULTS: The mean fracture resistance was 1464.77 ± 99.38 N for the 3D-printed group and 1473.15 ± 105.78 N for the conventional group, with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.71). Both groups demonstrated predominantly cohesive failures. The findings indicate that 3D-printed crowns can achieve mechanical performance equivalent to conventionally fabricated crowns within clinically acceptable limits.
CONCLUSION: 3D-printed resin-based crowns exhibited comparable fracture resistance to conventional crowns, suggesting their suitability for definitive restorations when fabricated under optimized protocols. The results support the integration of 3D printing into prosthodontic workflows for efficient, high-quality crown fabrication.
KEY TERMS: Additive manufacturing; Dental crowns; Digital dentistry; Fracture resistance; Polymer resins; Prosthodontics; Three-dimensional printing.
