The Influence of the Additive Techniques and Aging on Color Stability, Translucency, and Surface Texture of 3D-Printed Resins for Dental Restorations

A bstract We investigated the impact of additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, specifically stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP), on the optical properties and surface characteristics of resin-based materials used in restorative dentistry. With the increasing adoption of AM in dental applications, understanding the performance of these techniques under challenging conditions is essential. Sixty resin specimens of Senertek P-Crown V2 were fabricated using both SLA and DLP technologies. We aimed to evaluate color stability, translucency, and texture of the surface following thermocycling and acidic aging treatments. Statistical analysis was assessed using nonparametric tests, including the Mann–Whitney U , Kruskal–Wallis, and independent sample t -tests, with the significance level set at P < 0.05. DLP samples demonstrated significantly greater color changes ( Δ E values of 4.64 under thermocycling and 5.79 under acidic conditions) compared to SLA samples, which remained below the threshold of Δ E < 3.3, which is clinically acceptable in either condition. In addition, translucency values indicated inferior performance of DLP materials, especially after exposure to acidic environments. Surface roughness was also markedly higher in DLP. SLA demonstrated superior color stability and surface quality compared to DLP. Optimizing the printing parameters and addressing unreacted monomers are essential for enhancing the resilience of dental repairs in challenging environments.