Effects of printing temperature and post‐curing duration on the dimensional reproducibility and fracture load of 3D‐printed dental prostheses: An exploratory study

PURPOSE: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effects of printing temperature and post-curing duration on the dimensional reproducibility and mechanical properties of three-dimensional (3D)-printed dental prostheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Photopolymer specimens were fabricated using a stereolithographic 3D printer at two temperatures: room temperature (RT) and 50°C. After rinsing to remove uncured monomers, specimens were post-cured for 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, or 600 s. Fracture load testing was measured to assess mechanical performance. Dimensional reproducibility of three-unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) was evaluated using root mean square (RMS) deviation analysis and the silicone replica technique. Statistical analysis was conducted using one- and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: FDPs printed at 50°C demonstrated significantly lower RMS values in the intaglio region and superior marginal and internal fit compared with those printed at RT (p < 0.001). Specimens printed at 50°C and post-cured for ≥60 s exhibited significantly higher fracture loads than other groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Printing at an elevated temperature (50°C) enhanced dimensional reproducibility and fracture resistance while reducing the required post-curing time by up to 90%. However, due to the limited sample size and the use of a single printer-material system, these findings should be considered preliminary evidence supporting the optimization of 3D printing parameters for dental prostheses fabrication.