DIMENSIONAL ACCURACY OF SINTERED DENTAL METALWORK: EVALUATING 3D PRINTING PRECISION FROM INTRAORAL SCANS TO FINAL FIT

Abstract

The precision of 3D printing in the fabrication of sintered dental metalwork is critical for successful clinical outcomes. However, during the initial trial of these metal components on the patient, a dimensional discrepancy often manifests itself, indicating a poor fit despite being modeled from precise intraoral scans. This necessitates additional corrections or reprinting, thus extending the duration of treatment, increasing costs, and raising concerns about the reliability of 3D printing and subsequent processing techniques. This study aims to quantitatively analyze the dimensional changes in sintered dental metalwork from the original intraoral scan to the final product and to evaluate whether these changes are influenced by the complexity of the metalwork design. Using a 3D scanner (Atos Core 200, GOM, Germany), the dimensions of the sintered metalwork were compared to the corresponding CAD models. Preliminary results indicate significant dimensional deviations, particularly in more complex designs, underscoring the need for improved accuracy in the 3D printing process to enhance clinical outcomes and efficiency.