Purpose: To evaluate and compare the benefits and limitations of additive manufacturing for complete denture fabrication.
Methods: A PubMed and Google Scholar search for topics pertaining to additive manufacturing for complete dentures was performed. The resulting articles were then divided into topics to allow a narrative review.
Discussion: Determining how printing compares with conventional and milled dentures is critical for the widespread adoption of this fabrication technique. Physical properties, denture tooth bond strength, denture base adaptation and soft-liner bond strength are discussed to establish how printing compares.
Conclusions: Printing offers many advantages over milled and conventionally processed dentures; however, many questions need to be answered by research. The advantages include reduced cost of most printers compared to milling machines, less material waste, ability to print multiple dentures simultaneously, and complex designs can be fabricated that otherwise could not be milled. Current research has shown flexural strength, fracture toughness, color stability, and denture base adaptation are reduced for printed dentures when compared with milled dentures. Print orientation has been shown to influence accuracy, strength, surface roughness and C. albicans adherence which is not seen with conventional or milled denture materials. These factors do not represent a criticism of printing but rather indicate the need for more research with this new and promising denture fabrication technique. Since printing offers numerous benefits to complete denture fabrication it is likely to have a more significant role in complete denture fabrication in years to come as knowledge increases and materials/techniques continue to advance.
Keywords: 3D printing; CAD/CAM dentures; additive manufacturing; digital dentures.
© 2021 by the American College of Prosthodontists.