The Impact of Three-Dimensional Printer Technology on the Accuracy of Dental Implant Models

Abstract

This study examines the impact of different 3D printing technologies on the accuracy of implant positions in printed dental models, a crucial factor in implant-supported prosthetics. A standardized titanium model with three bone-level implants was scanned using an industrial scanner to create a virtual reference model. Ten intraoral scans of the same model were performed, and the generated STL files were used to design physical models printed with three different 3D printers: two utilizing digital light processing (DLP) technology and one employing stereolithography (SLA) (n = 30). The printed models were then rescanned, and deviations from the reference STL file were analyzed. Results showed that the SLA printer exhibited the highest deviations (0.26 ± 0.17 mm), whereas the DLP printers demonstrated greater accuracy, with one DLP system (0.07 ± 0.02 mm) performing slightly better than the other (0.12 ± 0.13 mm). The SLA printer exhibited the most significant errors in the vestibulo-oral and occlusal-apical directions. The findings suggest that DLP printers offer superior precision for implant-supported restorations in digital workflows. Clinically, the choice of 3D printing technology significantly impacts model accuracy, emphasizing the importance of selecting the appropriate printer based on the required precision.