Effect of layer thickness on the flexural strength of digital light processing-printed provisional restorative resin
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of layer thickness on the flexural strength of provisional restoration resin fabricated using digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing and to compare it with self-curing polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) provisional resin.Materials and Methods: Provisional 3D-printing resin specimens were fabricated using a DLP printer with three different layer thicknesses: 50, 100, and 150 μm.A self-curing PMMA resin group was used as the control.A total of 40 bar-shaped specimens were prepared, with 10 specimens in each group.Flexural strength was determined by means of a three-point bending test.The measured values were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey's post hoc test.Results: The self-curing PMMA resin group showed the lowest flexural strength, and all 3D-printed groups exhibited significantly higher flexural strength than the PMMA group (P < 0.001).Among the 3D-printed groups, the highest flexural strength was observed in the 50 μm group, followed by the 100 and 150 μm groups.In particular, the 50 μm group demonstrated significantly higher flexural strength than the 150 μm group (P = 0.017).Conclusion: The DLP fabricated provisional 3D-printing resin showed higher flexural strength than the self-curing PMMA resin.In the 3D-printed groups, flexural strength tended to increase as the layer thickness decreased.Therefore, layer thickness should be considered an important printing parameter affecting the mechanical properties, including the flexural strength, of provisional 3D-printed resin.(
Authors: Ji-yeon Hong, Seon-Ki Lee
Institutions: Wonkwang University Dental Hospital, Wonkwang University
Language: English
Subfield: General Dentistry
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: Wonkwang University
OpenAlex ID: W7204757349