Effect of postpolymerization on the wear behavior of additively manufactured definitive crown resins

IF 5.6 2区医学 Q1 DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE

Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry Pub Date : 2026-10-01 Epub Date: 2026-07-27 DOI:10.1016/j.prosdent.2026.07.007

Merve Soydan DDS, MS, Taha Yasar Manav DDS, MS

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Limited evidence is available regarding the influence of different postpolymerization techniques on the wear behavior of DC-CRC materials.</div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of several postpolymerization techniques and durations on the wear volume of additively manufactured DC-CRC specimens after thermomechanical aging and to compare these outcomes with those of a subtractively manufactured hybrid ceramic.</div></div><div>The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of several postpolymerization techniques and durations on the wear volume of additively manufactured DC-CRC specimens after thermomechanical aging and to compare these outcomes with those of a subtractively manufactured hybrid ceramic.</div><div><h3>Material and methods</h3><div>Disk-shaped specimens (Ø12×2 mm) were digitally designed and fabricated either from a hybrid ceramic block (Vita Enamic) by milling (Group VE, <em>n</em>=10) or from definitive crown resin (Saremco Crowntec) using a digital light processing (DLP) 3-dimensional (3D) printer (<em>n</em>=50). Printed specimens were assigned to 5 postpolymerization protocols: ultraviolet (UV) light polymerization for 30 minutes (Group Sx1), UV-light polymerization for 2×30 minutes (Group Sx2), otoflash polymerization in a nitrogen atmosphere using 2×2000 flashes (Group Nx1), otoflash polymerization in a nitrogen atmosphere using 4×2000 flashes (Group Nx2), and light-emitting diode (LED) light polymerization for 2×40 seconds (Group LED). All specimens were finished and polished according to the manufacturer’s instructions and subjected to thermomechanical aging in a mastication simulator (50 N, 240 000 cycles, 5 to 55 °C). Pre-aging and post-aging digital scans were obtained with a laboratory scanner. Wear volume (mm³) was calculated by aligning STL files and performing a 3D analysis. 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All specimens were finished and polished according to the manufacturer’s instructions and subjected to thermomechanical aging in a mastication simulator (50 N, 240 000 cycles, 5 to 55 °C). Pre-aging and post-aging digital scans were obtained with a laboratory scanner. Wear volume (mm³) was calculated by aligning STL files and performing a 3D analysis. Statistical evaluation was performed using 1-way ANOVA, followed by the Tukey post hoc test for multiple comparisons (α=.05).</div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A significant difference in wear volume was found among the groups (<em>P</em><.001). The hybrid ceramic (VE) exhibited the lowest mean ±standard deviation wear (0.12 ±0.05 mm³), whereas the highest wear was observed in the UV-polymerized Sx1 group (0.33 ±0.09 mm³). The wear in Sx1 was significantly greater than in Nx2 and VE. No significant differences were found between the Sx1 and Sx2 groups and between the Nx1 and Nx2 groups (<em>P</em>>.05). LED-polymerized specimens exhibited significantly greater wear than VE. Postpolymerization in the nitrogen atmosphere groups (Nx1 and Nx2) showed wear volumes comparable to those of the hybrid ceramic.</div></div><div>A significant difference in wear volume was found among the groups (<em>P</em><.001). The hybrid ceramic (VE) exhibited the lowest mean ±standard deviation wear (0.12 ±0.05 mm³), whereas the highest wear was observed in the UV-polymerized Sx1 group (0.33 ±0.09 mm³). The wear in Sx1 was significantly greater than in Nx2 and VE. No significant differences were found between the Sx1 and Sx2 groups and between the Nx1 and Nx2 groups (<em>P</em>>.05). LED-polymerized specimens exhibited significantly greater wear than VE. 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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Statement of problem

Additively manufactured definitive crown ceramic-reinforced composite (DC-CRC) resin materials have been increasingly used in clinical dentistry. However, their mechanical performance depends on postpolymerization parameters. Limited evidence is available regarding the influence of different postpolymerization techniques on the wear behavior of DC-CRC materials.

Purpose

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of several postpolymerization techniques and durations on the wear volume of additively manufactured DC-CRC specimens after thermomechanical aging and to compare these outcomes with those of a subtractively manufactured hybrid ceramic.

Material and methods

Disk-shaped specimens (Ø12×2 mm) were digitally designed and fabricated either from a hybrid ceramic block (Vita Enamic) by milling (Group VE, n=10) or from definitive crown resin (Saremco Crowntec) using a digital light processing (DLP) 3-dimensional (3D) printer (n=50). Printed specimens were assigned to 5 postpolymerization protocols: ultraviolet (UV) light polymerization for 30 minutes (Group Sx1), UV-light polymerization for 2×30 minutes (Group Sx2), otoflash polymerization in a nitrogen atmosphere using 2×2000 flashes (Group Nx1), otoflash polymerization in a nitrogen atmosphere using 4×2000 flashes (Group Nx2), and light-emitting diode (LED) light polymerization for 2×40 seconds (Group LED). All specimens were finished and polished according to the manufacturer’s instructions and subjected to thermomechanical aging in a mastication simulator (50 N, 240 000 cycles, 5 to 55 °C). Pre-aging and post-aging digital scans were obtained with a laboratory scanner. Wear volume (mm³) was calculated by aligning STL files and performing a 3D analysis. Statistical evaluation was performed using 1-way ANOVA, followed by the Tukey post hoc test for multiple comparisons (α=.05).

Results

A significant difference in wear volume was found among the groups (P<.001). The hybrid ceramic (VE) exhibited the lowest mean ±standard deviation wear (0.12 ±0.05 mm³), whereas the highest wear was observed in the UV-polymerized Sx1 group (0.33 ±0.09 mm³). The wear in Sx1 was significantly greater than in Nx2 and VE. No significant differences were found between the Sx1 and Sx2 groups and between the Nx1 and Nx2 groups (P>.05). LED-polymerized specimens exhibited significantly greater wear than VE. Postpolymerization in the nitrogen atmosphere groups (Nx1 and Nx2) showed wear volumes comparable to those of the hybrid ceramic.

Conclusions

Postpolymerization techniques influenced the wear resistance of additively manufactured DC-CRC materials. Polymerization in a nitrogen atmosphere improved wear performance compared with that of subtractively manufactured hybrid ceramic. Extending polymerization duration showed no significant differences in wear within each method; however, prolonged polymerization in a nitrogen atmosphere showed better outcomes than standard UV-light polymerization. Postpolymerization in a nitrogen atmosphere may therefore enhance the clinical durability of 3D printed definitive resin crowns, although long-term and clinical investigations remain necessary.

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后聚合对增材制造的冠状树脂磨损性能的影响。

问题说明：增材制造终冠陶瓷增强复合材料（DC-CRC）树脂材料已越来越多地用于临床牙科。然而，它们的力学性能取决于聚合后的参数。关于不同聚合后技术对DC-CRC材料磨损行为的影响的证据有限。目的：本体外研究的目的是评估几种后聚合技术和持续时间对增材制造的DC-CRC样品在热机械老化后磨损体积的影响，并将这些结果与减法制造的杂化陶瓷的结果进行比较。材料和方法：圆盘状标本（Ø12×2 mm）通过铣削（Group VE, n=10）或使用数字光处理（DLP）三维（3D）打印机（n=50）从混合陶瓷块（Vita Enamic）或确定冠树脂（Saremco Crowntec）进行数字化设计和制造。打印的样品被分配到5种聚合后方案：紫外光聚合30分钟（Sx1组），紫外光聚合2×30分钟（Sx2组），氮气气氛下使用2×2000闪光灯进行耳闪聚合（Nx1组），氮气气氛下使用4×2000闪光灯进行耳闪聚合（Nx2组），发光二极管（LED）光聚合2×40秒（LED组）。所有样品都按照制造商的说明完成和抛光，并在咀嚼模拟器中进行热机械老化（50 N， 240 000次循环，5至55°C）。使用实验室扫描仪获得预老化和后老化数字扫描。通过对齐STL文件并进行3D分析，计算磨损量（mm³）。统计学评价采用单因素方差分析，多组比较采用Tukey事后检验（α= 0.05）。结果：两组患者磨损量差异有统计学意义（p < 0.05）。led聚合样品的磨损明显大于VE。在氮气气氛组（Nx1和Nx2）中聚合后的磨损量与杂化陶瓷相当。结论：后聚合技术影响增材制造的DC-CRC材料的耐磨性。与减法制备的杂化陶瓷相比，在氮气气氛中聚合提高了耐磨性能。延长聚合时间对不同方法的磨损无显著影响；然而，在氮气气氛中长时间聚合比标准紫外光聚合效果更好。因此，在氮气气氛中进行后聚合可以提高3D打印最终树脂冠的临床耐久性，尽管长期和临床研究仍然是必要的。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry 医学-牙科与口腔外科

CiteScore

7.00

自引率

13.00%

发文量

599

审稿时长

69 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry is the leading professional journal devoted exclusively to prosthetic and restorative dentistry. The Journal is the official publication for 24 leading U.S. international prosthodontic organizations. The monthly publication features timely, original peer-reviewed articles on the newest techniques, dental materials, and research findings. The Journal serves prosthodontists and dentists in advanced practice, and features color photos that illustrate many step-by-step procedures. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry is included in Index Medicus and CINAHL.