In vitro use of provisional crowns fabricated using 3D printing technique with polylactic acid

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the in vitro use of provisional crowns fabricated by 3D printing with polylactic acid. Materials and methods: A quantitative and descriptive approach was used. Thirty preparations in acrylic dental pieces were fabricated and scanned with the EG Solution DScan extraoral scanner using exocad’s DentalCAD software. The crowns were designed to be printed using the fused deposition modeling technique on the Qidi Tech X-one2 3D printer. Subsequently, inter-examiner agreement was verified to determine the marginal adaptation of the provisionals. Compression tests were performed using an MCS Metrology apparatus, model WAW 1000D. The color symmetry and the operating time required to manufacture a 3D provisional were determined using the Vita Toothguide 3D-MASTER. Results: The professionals agreed on a moderate marginal adaptation with a Cohen’s kappa value of 0.41, representing moderate agreement. The compressive strength generated a mean of eighteen megapascals. The working time for the printed provisional crowns averaged twenty minutes. Conclusion: It is concluded that the in vitro use of a provisional crown fabricated using 3D printing technology with polylactic acid (PLA) is feasible, given its practicality, reproduction of the dental anatomy and its adaptation. Recommendations: Further in vitro research is suggested to scientifically document the behavior of PLA in dentistry, investigating further physical, thermal, and optical tests to subsequently develop a second phase of experimentation in patients.