Dimensional Precision of Implant-supported Frameworks Fabricated by 3D Printing

Statement Of Problem: Selective laser melting (SLM) is a promising additive technology for clinical practice, but data on dimensional precision assessed by marginal fit combined with stress and strain investigations of implant-supported fixed partial dentures (FPDs) are lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to verify whether the SLM additive manufacturing technology provides better dimensional precision for 3-unit FPD frameworks than subtractive manufacturing with soft metal block (SMB) milling and the standard casting technique.

Material And Methods: Thirty 3-unit implant-supported FPDs with Co-Cr frameworks were made by the casting, SMB milling, and SLM methods (n=10). The marginal fit between the framework and the implant abutment was evaluated with photoelastic (PH) and strain gauge (SG) models. Stress and strain in the implant-supported system were measured by quantitative PH and SG analyses after prosthetic screw tightening. Data were subjected to the Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman correlation test (α=.05).

Results: The framework manufacturing method affected the marginal fit (P<.001), stress, and strain values (P<.05). The SLM group showed the best mean ±standard deviation marginal fit (μm) (PH model: 8.4 ±3.2; SG model: 6.9 ±2.1) in comparison with SMB milling (PH model: 42.3 ±15.7; SG model: 41.3 ±15.3) and casting (PH model: 43.5 ±27.8; SG model: 41.3 ±24.6) (P<.05). SLM showed lower mean ±standard deviation stress and strain values (60.3 ±11.6 MPa; 91.4 ±11.1 μstrain) than casting (225.5 ±142.8 MPa; 226.95 ±55.4 μstrain) and SMB milling (218.6 ±101.7 MPa; 289.7 ±89.3 μstrain) (P<.05). A positive correlation was observed between fit and stress or strain for all groups (P<.05).

Conclusions: Three-unit FPD frameworks made using the SLM technology showed better dimensional precision than those obtained with the casting or SMB milling methods.