Digital functionally generated path vs. traditional CAD-CAM methods for single posterior crowns: An in vivo study of the effects on patient satisfaction and crown volume.

Purpose: To determine the effect of using the digital functionally generated path (FGP) method and the traditional computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) method to design and mill single posterior crowns in terms of patient satisfaction and crown volume analysis.

Materials and methods: An intraoral scanner (IOS) was used to record maxillary and mandibular arch scans and record buccal and laterotrusive records of thirteen selected participants. Two zirconia crowns were fabricated for each patient: a conventional crown, designed using only the buccal interocclusal record, and a new technique crown, where adjustments were made using both buccal and laterotrusive records. After milling and sintering, adhering to the manufacturer's instructions, patient satisfaction was analyzed using Likert's 3-point scale, and crown volume was analyzed using Blender software. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed for analyzing differences between groups (p-value ≤ 0.05).

Results: Conventional crowns had a Likert scale score of 1.00, significantly higher than the new technique crowns' median score of 0.0 (p < 0.05). Conventional crowns had a mean volume of 161.9 ± 15.51 mm³, significantly larger than new technique crowns (148.6 ± 12.71 mm³, p = 0.025).

Conclusion: CAD-CAM zirconia crowns designed with consideration of the FGP technique exhibited superiority in terms of patient satisfaction when contrasted with CAD-CAM zirconia crowns designed based on static occlusion data. Utilizing virtual mandibular movement replication may serve as a reliable method for locating interferences and adjusting zirconia crown designs.