Accuracy and surface roughness of Co-Cr partial denture frameworks with different digital fabrication methods.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Traditional removable partial denture (RPD) manufacture is being phased out in favor of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) techniques and rapid prototyping (RP), which provide more efficient methods of producing RPD frameworks. However, studies comparing the accuracy and surface roughness of these approaches on RPD frameworks are still scarce. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the accuracy and surface roughness of class I cobalt chromium (Co-Cr) removable partial denture frameworks digitally constructed using 2 different CAD-CAM technologies: direct milling (DM) and selective laser melting (SLM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: An educational maxillary stone cast was scanned to create a resin model after rest seat preparation. The resin model was scanned, and an RPD framework was digitally designed. Sixteen frameworks were constructed (n=8). Two groups were defined. In the direct milling (DM) group, the standard tessellation language (STL) file of the RPD framework was used to mill the design from a Co-Cr blank directly. In the selective laser melting (SLM) group, the STL file of the RPD framework was used to print the design from Co-Cr powder using the selective laser melting technique. Geomagic Control X software program was used to measure the accuracy of the fabricated frameworks. Surface roughness was tested using optical profilometry. An unpaired t test was used to compare the 2 groups (α=.05). RESULTS: The DM group showed significantly higher mean ±standard deviation accuracy (189 ±9 µm) (P<.001) compared with the SLM group (456 ±122 µm). Regarding the surface roughness, the DM group (0.157 ±0.001 mm) showed significantly lower surface roughness (P<.001) compared with the SLM group (0.256 ±0.001 mm). CONCLUSIONS: The direct milling fabrication technique enabled the fabrication of Co-Cr RPD frameworks with higher accuracy and less surface roughness when compared with the 3-dimensionally printed SLM technique.

Effect of different digital technology on the adaptation and retention of Co-Cr partial denture frameworks.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the overall adaptation and retention of class I cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) removable partial denture (RPD) frameworks using three different computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technologies: Indirect wax milling with lost wax technique (LWT), direct milling, and selective laser melting (SLM) technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An educational maxillary stone model (Kennedy class I) was scanned after preparing rest seats to create a resin model. The resin model was scanned, and the RPD framework was digitally designed and saved as a standard tessellation language (STL) file. Twenty-four Co-Cr RPD frameworks were then constructed and divided into three groups (n = 8) based on fabrication technique: Group A (indirect wax milling with LWT), Group B (direct milling), and Group C (selective laser melting). In Group A, the STL file was used to mill the design from castable resin blanks which were then cast by the LWT. In Group B, the STL file was used to mill the design from the Co-Cr blank directly. Finally in Group C, the STL file was used to print the design from Co-Cr powder using SLM 3D printed technique. Geomagic Control X software was used to measure the overall adaptation of the fabricated RPD frameworks, Retention was also tested using a universal testing machine. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare the three groups then the Tukey HSD post-hoc test was used for pair-wise comparisons. The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Regarding the overall adaptation, Group B (0.71 ± 0.02 mm) showed significantly higher adaptation than Group A (0.96 ± 0.06 mm) and Group C (1.05 ± 0.16 mm). Regarding retention, Group B (2.03 ± 0.34 N) showed significantly higher retention than Group A (1.00 ± 0.13 N) and Group C (0.78 ±0.17 N). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this in vitro study, Co-Cr RPD frameworks fabricated by direct milling technique revealed the best adaptation and retention.