Layer Thickness Profiles and Flexural Properties of a 3D-Printed Temporary Resin: A Pilot Study
Keywords:
Three-dimensional impression; Flexural strength; Temporary dental restoration; Digital dentistryAbstract
Introduction: Layer thickness is a configurable parameter of 3D printing that could modify the flexural properties of resins for temporary restorations.
Objective: To describe the flexural strength and apparent flexural modulus of a 3D-printed temporary resin with four profiles defined by their nominal layer thickness, and to compare them with the flexural strength threshold specified in ISO 10477:2020.
Methods: A pilot in vitro experimental study. Test specimens measuring 25 × 2 × 2 mm were printed from LuDent C&B TRY IN resin, oriented at 90°, with layer thicknesses of 25, 50, 75, and 100 µm, with one print per layer. After post-processing and 24 hours in water at 37 °C, the specimens were tested using a three-point bending test at their actual dimensions. The modulus was calculated using the slope of the linear load-deflection curve. The 31 specimens were analyzed descriptively, without hypothesis testing, because the effect of the profile cannot be separated from that of the print.
Results: The average flexural strength was 73.0, 46.5, 34.0, and 49.0 MPa, and the average apparent flexural modulus was 1.77, 1.18, 1.15, and 0.97 GPa for 25, 50, 75, and 100 µm, respectively. The 25 µm impression, tested in a separate session, yielded the highest values, with no clear trend among the other profiles. None of the specimens met the standard’s dimensional tolerance for width and height. Six out of eight, three out of eight, one out of eight, and four out of seven specimens, respectively, reached 50 MPa.
Conclusions: Among the four prints evaluated, the 25 µm profile produced specimens with higher flexural strength and apparent flexural modulus. Since each profile was evaluated in a single print, these differences cannot be attributed to layer thickness and require confirmation with multiple independent prints per profile.
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