Accuracy of Dental Replica Models Using Photopolymer Materials in Additive Manufacturing: In Vitro Three-Dimensional Evaluation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy (trueness and precision) of dental replica models produced by using photopolymer materials in additive manufacturing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A complete arch model was scanned using an extraoral scanner (Identica Blue) and established as reference. For the control group, 10 stone models were acquired through the conventional method from the reference model. For the experimental groups, digital data were acquired using an intraoral scanner (CEREC Omnicam), and 10 stereolithographic apparatus (SLA) models and 10 PolyJet models were made. All models were scanned with an extraoral scanner. Three-dimensional analysis software was used to measure differences between the 3D scanned images in root mean square values. The ISO-5725-1 specification was followed to measure trueness and precision between two 3D scanned data. Trueness was calculated by overlapping scanned data with the reference model and precision by performing pairwise intragroup comparisons. Also the ratio of region out of tolerance (> ±50 μm) was measured. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc analysis were applied.

RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in trueness between the stone and the SLA models (p > 0.05). Dental replica models using photopolymer materials showed statistically significantly better precision than that of the stone model (p < 0.05). Regarding tolerance, no statistically significant difference was observed between the stone and the SLA models (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Although the dental replica models using photopolymer materials did not show better trueness than the conventional stone models, there was no significant difference between the SLA and the stone models. Concerning precision, dental replica models using photopolymer materials presented better results than that of the conventional stone models. In sum, dental replica models using photopolymer materials showed sufficient accuracy for clinical use.