Wear Resistance and Surface Roughness of CAD-CAM Ceramics Versus 3D-Printed Resin Crowns: An In vitro Study

Objectives: Durability of dental restorations is influenced by their wear resistance and surface roughness. CAD-CAM ceramics and 3D-printed resin-based crowns are widely used in prosthodontics; however, comparative data on their wear behavior is limited. Materials and Methods: This in vitro study evaluated 40 crowns, equally divided into Group A (CAD-CAM lithium disilicate ceramic crowns) and Group B (3D-printed photopolymer resin crowns). All crowns underwent wear simulation using a dual-axis chewing simulator (50 N, 100,000 cycles). Surface roughness (Ra) was assessed pre- and post-wear using a non-contact profilometer. Statistical analysis included independent t-tests (p<0.05), effect size (Cohen’s d), and 95% confidence intervals. Results: CAD-CAM ceramics exhibited significantly less wear (25±2 µm) compared to 3D-printed resin crowns (58±3 µm; p<0.001, d = 11.0). Initial surface roughness was lower for ceramics (0.21±0.03 µm) versus resin (0.35±0.05 µm). After simulation, roughness increased to 0.28±0.04 µm (ceramics) and 0.62±0.06 µm (resins) (p<0.001). Conclusion: CAD-CAM ceramic crowns demonstrated superior wear resistance and smoother surface characteristics compared to 3D-printed resin crowns. While 3D-printed crowns offer cost and customization benefits, their clinical use may be best suited for provisional or low-load applications. Further in vivo studies are warranted.