Additive manufacturing (3D printing) has transformed dentistry by providing solutions with high precision and accuracy achieved through digital workflows, which facilitate the creation of intricate and personalized structures. Additionally, 3D printing promotes cost efficiency by reducing material waste and errors while enabling on-demand production, minimizing the need for extensive inventories. Recent advancements in 3D-printed resin materials have enhanced their clinical applications by improving mechanical strength, biocompatibility, esthetics, and durability. These innovations have facilitated the fabrication of complex and patient-specific structures, such as dental prostheses, surgical guides, and orthodontic appliances, while significantly reducing production time and material waste. Ongoing research and innovation are expected to strengthen resin properties, including strength, translucency, and durability, broadening their clinical applications. The ongoing evolution of 3D printing technology is poised to play a critical role in driving personalized treatments, streamlining clinical workflows, and shaping the future of dental care. This narrative review comprehensively examines the production techniques and clinical applications of 3D-printed photopolymer resins across various dental specialties, including prosthodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, maxillofacial surgery, periodontology, endodontics, and conservative dentistry. Additionally, the review provides insight into the transformative impact of these technologies on patient care, highlights existing challenges, and suggests future directions for advancing resin properties and their integration into routine dental practice.

Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (JOCPD) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal, which is currently indexed in SCIE, etc., aming to provide clinically relevant information to enable the practicing dentist to have access to the state of the art in pediatric dentistry.

The quality of marginal and internal adaptation plays a crucial role in the clinical longevity of pediatric crowns. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of restoration type (3D-printed, milled, and prefabricated) on the marginal and internal adaptation and absolute marginal discrepancy (AMD) values of crowns for primary molar teeth. Three restoration groups were created: 3D-printed resin, milled resin-matrix ceramic, and prefabricated zirconia crowns (n = 10 per group). A typodont tooth was prepared according to the guidelines for prefabricated zirconia crowns and scanned to design restorations. 3D-printed and milled crowns were fabricated from the same design. All crowns were cemented on standardized 3D-printed resin dies with self-adhesive resin cement. Marginal and internal adaptation and AMD values were evaluated using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) at multiple measurement points. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD tests, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. The restoration type significantly influenced the marginal and internal gap and AMD values (P < 0.05). The prefabricated crown group exhibited the highest marginal gap (233.5 ± 33.4 μm) and internal gap (538.6 ± 47.4 μm). The 3D-printed group showed the highest AMD value (299.5 ± 70.2 μm). The milled group demonstrated the lowest gap values, which remained within clinically acceptable limits. Prefabricated zirconia crowns displayed the highest marginal and internal gaps, whereas milled crowns exhibited the most favorable adaptation values within clinically acceptable limits. Given their superior adaptation, CAD-CAM-produced restorations may be a recommendable alternative for pediatric patients.

Background and Objectives: Advances in dental materials and CAD-CAM technology have expanded crown options in primary teeth due to their improved appearance and mechanical properties. Thus, this study aimed to assess the enamel wear and fracture resistance of prefabricated, milled, and 3D-printed esthetic pediatric crowns. Materials and Methods: The study involved 60 extracted maxillary second primary molars and 60 3D-printed resin dies, divided into six groups based on different crown materials (n = 10): prefabricated zirconia, prefabricated composite, milled composite, milled resin matrix ceramic, milled PEEK, and 3D-printed resin. Prefabricated crowns were selected after the preparation of the typodont mandibular second primary molar tooth, while milled and 3D-printed crowns were custom produced. The specimens underwent mechanical loading of 50 N at 1.6 Hz for 250,000 cycles with simultaneous thermal cycling. The 3D and 2D wear amounts were evaluated by scanning the specimens before and after aging. Then, the fracture resistance and failure types of the restorations were recorded. Results: The results showed that the milled PEEK group had superior fracture resistance compared to the other groups, while prefabricated zirconia crown group had the lowest value. Milled resin matrix ceramic crown group displayed the lowest 3D wear volume, while 3D-printed crown group showed the highest 2D wear. Conclusions: The restorative material type did not have a significant effect on the wear of primary tooth enamel. The fracture resistance of the tested materials differed according to the material type. Although the milled PEEK group showed the highest fracture resistance, all tested materials can withstand chewing forces in children.

Increased surface roughness and discoloration of the direct restorative materials used in pediatric patients affect the longevity of restorations and impair children’s oral health. Many factors can alter these properties. One of these factors is the intake of dietary supplements. It is crucial to predict the properties of restorative materials when exposed to dietary supplements to maintain the dental care of children. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of various syrup-formed dietary supplements on the average surface roughness and color stability of current restorative materials used in pediatric dentistry. Seven different restorative materials (conventional glass ionomer [Fuji IX GP], resin-modified glass ionomer, [Fuji II LC], zirconia-reinforced glass ionomer [Zirconomer Improved], polyacid-modified composite resin [Dyract^®XTRA], bulk-fill glass hybrid restorative [Equia Forte HT Fill], conventional resin composite [Charisma Smart], and resin composite with reactive glass fillers [Cention N]) were tested. The specimens prepared from each type of restorative material were divided into five subgroups according to dietary supplements (Sambucol Kids, Resverol, Imunol, Umca, and Microfer). These specimens were immersed daily in supplement solution over a period of 28 days. Surface roughness and color difference measurements were performed at baseline and at the 7th and 28th days. The color difference and Ra values showed that there was an interaction among the type of restorative material, type of dietary supplement, and immersion time factors (p < 0.05). Whereas lower Ra values were found in the composite resin group, the highest Ra values were found in the conventional glass ionomer group. All supplements caused increasing color difference values, and Resverol and Umca showed higher discoloration values above the clinically acceptable threshold. The intake of dietary supplement type, the immersion time of the dietary supplement, and the restorative material type affected the surface roughness and color stability of the tested direct restorative materials. All of the experimental groups showed higher Ra values than clinically acceptable surface roughness values (0.2 µm). The color difference values also increased with the immersion time.

Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (JOCPD) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal, which is currently indexed in SCIE, etc., aming to provide clinically relevant information to enable the practicing dentist to have access to the state of the art in pediatric dentistry.