Comparing Mechanical Properties of Fixed Prosthodontic and 3D Printed Materials

Objectives: Advancements in the technology associated with fixed prosthodontics have allowed dental clinicians to begin to use 3D printed materials. The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical performance of traditional provisional restoration materials, CAD/CAM materials, and fused deposition modeling 3D printed materials. The specific mechanical properties tested were modulus of elasticity and ultimate transverse strength.
Methods: Three 3D printed materials, Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS), Polylactic acid, and polycarbonate were compared with two CAD/CAM materials, Paradigm and ProCAD, and Integrity, a traditional provisional material. Samples of 2x2x10mm size were made from each material for testing. To determine the modulus of elasticity and the ultimate transverse strength of each material, 12 samples of each material were then loaded in an Instron using the three point bending mode at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min until fracture.
Results: The ABS samples had an ultimate transverse strength of 91.010±33.102 and a modulus of elasticity of 2724.594±3708.601. The PLA samples had an ultimate transverse strength of 58.474±6.213 and a modulus of elasticity of 2409.95±316.774. The polycarbonate samples had an ultimate transverse strength of 1125.196±3421.89 with a modulus of elasticity of 68351.588±107307.694. The ProCAD samples had an ultimate transverse strength of 74.416±20.330 MPa and a modulus of elasticity of 7611.66±3879.27 MPa. The Paradigm samples had an ultimate transverse strength of 102.008±41.394 MPa and a modulus of elasticity of 4573.56±2517.12 MPa. The Integrity samples had an ultimate transverse strength of 54.289±20.180 MPa and a modulus of elasticity of 4165.79±2964.38 MPa.
Conclusions: Polycarbonate had the highest average ultimate transverse strength and highest statistically significant average modulus of elasticity when compared to ABS, PLA, Paradigm and Integrity (p<.05). Integrity had the lowest statistically significant average ultimate transverse strength compared to ABS (p<.05), and PLA had the lowest statistically significant average modulus of elasticity compared to Polycarbonate and Integrity (p<.05).