Characterization of SLA-printed ceramic composites for dental restorations

This study introduces a novel ceramic-composite resin specifically developed for stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing, aimed at enhancing dental restorations. The integration of advanced digital technologies in dentistry has shifted traditional methods towards more precise and efficient techniques such as computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM). However, these processes typically involve material waste due to their subtractive nature. Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, particularly SLA, which uses ultraviolet light to cure photosensitive resins, presents a viable alternative with the potential for creating detailed, custom restorations with minimal waste. Our research focuses on formulating and evaluating a ceramic-composite resin that combines the benefits of light-cured materials with the mechanical robustness required for dental applications. We conducted comprehensive tests to assess the printability, mechanical properties and wear resistance of the developed material. The ceramic-composite resin demonstrated a tensile strength of approximately 73 MPa, significantly higher than the 42 MPa observed for traditional photopolymer resins. Additionally, the ceramic-composite resin showed ability to resist incidental friction and wear. This research could significantly impact the dental prosthetics field by providing a method for producing high-performance, patient-specific restorations efficiently and cost-effectively.