Translucency of CAD/CAM and 3D Printable Composite Materials for Permanent Dental Restorations

At a Glance

Metadata	Details
Publication Date	2023-03-15
Journal	Polymers
Authors	Alessandro Vichi, Dario Balestra, Nicola Scotti, Chris Louca, Gaetano Paolone
Institutions	Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Raffaele
Citations	54
Analysis	Full AI Review Included

Technical Documentation & Analysis: Translucency of CAD/CAM and 3D Printable Composites

This document analyzes the research on dental restorative materials, focusing on the critical role of optical properties (translucency) and mechanical durability, and connects these requirements to the superior material science capabilities offered by 6CCVD’s MPCVD diamond products.

Executive Summary

The study compares the translucency of CAD/CAM and 3D-printed resin composites for fixed dental prostheses (FDPs), highlighting the wide variability in optical performance critical for aesthetic dental applications.

Core Finding: Translucency (measured by Contrast Ratio (CR) and Translucency Parameter (TP/TP₀₀)) varies significantly, even among materials marketed with the same opacity level (e.g., High Translucency, HT).
Methodology: 150 specimens (1.0 mm thick) were prepared via subtractive milling (CAD/CAM blocks) or additive manufacturing (3D printing) and analyzed using a benchtop spectrophotometer.
Key Results: CR ranged from 59.0 (most translucent) to 84.4 (most opaque). The null hypothesis (that translucency is consistent across different materials of the same stated level) was rejected.
Clinical Relevance: Clinicians must exercise caution in material selection, considering the material’s inherent translucency, required clinical thickness, and substrate masking needs.
6CCVD Value Proposition: While the study focuses on polymer composites,

View Original Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the translucency of CAD/CAM and printable composite materials for fixed dental prostheses (FDP). Eight A3 composite materials (7 CAD/CAM and 1 printable) for FPD were used to prepare a total of 150 specimens. CAD/CAM materials, all characterized by two different opacity levels, were: Tetric CAD (TEC) HT/MT; Shofu Block HC (SB) HT/LT; Cerasmart (CS) HT/LT; Brilliant Crios (BC) HT/LT; Grandio Bloc (GB) HT/LT; Lava Ultimate (LU) HT/LT, Katana Avencia (KAT) LT/OP. The printable system was Permanent Crown Resin. 1.0 mm-thick specimens were cut from commercial CAD/CAM blocks using a water-cooled diamond saw, or 3D printed. Measurements were performed using a benchtop spectrophotometer with an integrating sphere. Contrast Ratio (CR), Translucency Parameter (TP), and Translucency Parameter 00 (TP00) were calculated. One Way ANOVA followed by Tukey test for post hoc were performed for each of the translucency system. The tested materials exhibited a wide range of translucency values. CR ranged from 59 to 84, TP from 15.75 to 8.96, TP00 from 12.47 to 6.31. KAT(OP) and CS(HT) showed, respectively, the lowest and highest translucency for CR, TP and TP00. Due to the significant range of reported translucency values, clinicians should exercise caution when choosing the most appropriate material, especially considering factors such as substrate masking, and the necessary clinical thickness.

Tech Support

Original Source

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15061443

References

2021 - A Potential Application of Materials Based on a Polymer and CAD/CAM Composite Resins in Prosthetic Dentistry [Crossref]
2018 - CAD/CAM Ceramic Restorative Materials for Natural Teeth [Crossref]
2014 - Resin-Composite Blocks for Dental CAD/CAM Applications [Crossref]
2020 - Flexural Resistance of CAD-CAM Blocks. Part 3: Polymer-Based Restorative Materials for Permanent Restorations
2018 - Effect of Staining Beverages on Color and Translucency of CAD/CAM Composites [Crossref]
1981 - Optical Properties of Direct Restorative Materials [Crossref]
2014 - Review of Translucency Determinations and Applications to Dental Materials [Crossref]