Aim: The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the in vitro performance and fracture force of 3D-printed anterior implant-supported temporary partial dentures (TPDs) with different filler content.
Materials and methods: Identical anterior resin-based TPDs (tooth sites 11 to 13; n = eight per material) were 3D printed from methacrylate resins with different filler content. A cartridge polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) material was used as a reference. After temporary cementation, combined thermal cycling and mechanical loading (TCML) was performed on all the restorations to mimic clinical application. Behavior during TCML and fracture force was determined, and failures were analyzed. Data were statistically investigated (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, one-way ANOVA; post hoc Bonferroni, Kaplan-Meier survival; α = 0.05).
Results: Failure during TCML varied between three failures and total failure during loading time. Mean survival time varied between 93 ± 206 x 103 cycles and 329 ± 84 x 103 cycles. Significantly different survival cycles between the individual materials could be determined (Mantel Cox log-rank test: chi-square: 21,861; degrees of freedom (df) = 4, P < 0.001). A correlation between filler level and survival cycles could be found (Pearson: 0.186, P = 0.065). Fracture values of the surviving TPDs varied between 499 and 835 N. Failures were characterized by fracture of the connector (n = 24) followed by fractures at the abutment (n = 10).
Conclusions: TDPs showed different filler-dependent survival. Individual 3D-printed materials provided comparable or even better performance than a standard cartridge system and might be sufficient for temporary application of at least half a year.
Keywords: 3D printing; finite element analysis (FEA); implant; rapid prototyping; temporary dentures; temporary partial denture (TPD); thermal cycling and mechanical loading (TCML).