Additive manufacturing is increasingly integrated into dental technology, yet the mechanical performance of 3D-printed denture base resins remains strongly influenced by printing orientation and post-curing duration. This study evaluated the combined effect of three printing orientations (0°, 45°, 90°) and three post-curing times (30, 45, 60 min) on the flexural strength and surface microhardness of a denture base resin. Specimens designed in Blender and fabricated using NextDent Denture 3D+ resin were subjected to three-point bending tests (n = 5 per group) and Vickers microhardness measurements (n = 10 per group). One-way ANOVA assessed main and interaction effects. Printing orientation had a significant influence on flexural strength, with horizontally printed specimens exhibiting the highest values, whereas vertically printed specimens were consistently weaker. Post-curing time did not significantly affect flexural strength within any orientation. In contrast, microhardness increased progressively with longer post-curing durations, regardless of orientation, indicating continued surface polymerisation. Because flexural strength and hardness responded differently to curing duration, no single post-curing time was universally optimal; however, 0° printing consistently produced the strongest specimens for this resin–printer system. This trade-off is clinically relevant, because dentures require high flexural strength to resist fracture and sufficient hardness to minimise wear.

Additive manufacturing is now an integral part of digital prosthodontic workflows, and although stereolithography (SLA) is widely used for denture base fabrication, the dimensional accuracy of printed dentures remains highly dependent on manufacturing parameters, particularly build orientation. This study evaluated the influence of build orientation on the trueness and precision of SLA-printed maxillary and mandibular denture bases. Thirty complete denture bases were fabricated using SLA and divided into three groups according to build orientation: 0°, 45°, and 90° (n = 10). The intaglio surfaces of the printed dentures were scanned and compared with their corresponding digital reference models using three-dimensional inspection software. Trueness was quantified using root mean square error (RMSE) and directional deviations, while precision was assessed based on the variability of RMSE values within each group. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test (p ≤ 0.05). Build orientation significantly affected the trueness of maxillary denture bases, with dentures printed at 90° demonstrating the lowest RMSE values. No statistically significant differences in trueness were observed among build orientations for mandibular denture bases. Precision was not influenced by build orientation for maxillary dentures, whereas mandibular dentures printed at 90° exhibited significantly greater variability compared with 0° and 45°. Build orientation is a critical factor influencing the dimensional accuracy of SLA-printed denture bases in an arch-dependent manner. Optimizing build orientation may enhance both accuracy and reproducibility, thereby improving the predictability and clinical reliability of additively manufactured denture bases.

Purpose/Objectives: Tooth morphology is a fundamental aspect of dental education, essential for various clinical disciplines. Traditional teaching methods, such as 2D visualizations, gypsum models, and wax or soap carving, have been widely used to develop students’ spatial understanding and manual skills. However, the integration of 3D‐printed models offers a novel approach that may enhance learning by providing a more accurate representation of dental morphology. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of 3D‐printed models in learning tooth morphology by comparing their impact on students' practical and theoretical performance with traditional teaching methods. Methods: Dental students were divided into two groups: one utilizing 3D‐printed models alongside traditional methods and another relying solely on conventional gypsum and 2D visualizations. Practical assessments included soap tooth carving and wax modelling, while theoretical knowledge was evaluated through a written examination. Additionally, students completed a questionnaire to provide feedback on their experience with the 3D‐printed models. Results: Students who used 3D‐printed models achieved significantly higher scores in the soap tooth carving task, demonstrating improved accuracy and anatomical detail. However, there was no significant difference in the wax modelling scores between the two groups, suggesting that advanced manual dexterity skills are not solely dependent on 3D visualization. Theoretical examination results also showed no significant difference, indicating that 3D models primarily enhance practical skills rather than theoretical comprehension. Over 80% of students reported that 3D‐printed models were highly beneficial in understanding tooth anatomy and improving carving skills. Conclusion(s): The findings suggest that 3D‐printed models serve as a valuable tool for enhancing practical skills in dental education. While they do not replace traditional methods, they effectively support hands‐on learning and visualization.

Introduction: Tooth color is a key determinant of dental aesthetics and critically influences patient satisfaction. Traditional shade matching is subjective and inconsistent, while spectrophotometry offers standardized, reproducible, and objective measurements. Defining the natural color profiles of anterior teeth in young adults is essential for predictable and high-quality esthetic restorations. The purpose of this study is to analyze the color characteristics of the maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines in a population of young adults aged 18–21 using a spectrophotometer (Spectroshade; MHT Optic Research). Materials and Methods: Color measurements were conducted on 153 dental students aged 18–21 years using the SpectroShade Micro spectrophotometer. The teeth examined were maxillary central (11, 21), lateral incisors (12, 22) and canines (13, 23). VITA Classical shades were matched and subsequently converted to CIELAB values (L*, a*, b*). Statistical analysis included mean, SD, and one-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). Results: The central incisors had the highest L* (lightness) values, indicating greater brightness. Canines presented significantly higher b* values, reflecting more pronounced yellowness. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among the tooth groups. Conclusion: Color parameters of anterior teeth vary significantly between tooth types in young adults. These findings are valuable for aesthetic restorative procedures and provide a reference for shade selection in this age group.

This study aimed to assess the agreement between spectrophotometric and intraoral scanner-based tooth shade determination using the VITA Classical and VITA 3D-Master shade systems. Tooth shade was determined consecutively using a spectrophotometer and an intraoral scanner in 120 healthy adults. Measurements were performed on the vestibular surfaces of 709 maxillary anterior teeth. Shade outcomes were recorded according to the VITA Classical and VITA 3D-Master systems. Inter-method agreement was evaluated using percentage agreement, Cohen’s kappa coefficients, and Krippendorff’s α. Full categorical agreement was observed in 54.9% of measurements for the VITA 3D-Master system and in 62.3% for the VITA Classical system. Unweighted Cohen’s kappa indicated fair-to-moderate agreement. Weighted kappa for the VITA 3D-Master system demonstrated substantial agreement, indicating that most discrepancies occurred between adjacent shade categories. Intraoral scanner-based digital shade determination showed clinically acceptable agreement with spectrophotometric assessment. Most disagreements involved adjacent shade categories, supporting its use as a complementary method within digital workflows.

The aim of this study was to evaluate time-dependent changes in the color characteristics of intact maxillary anterior teeth during controlled dehydration and subsequent natural rehydration using spectrophotometric analysis. Thirty systemically healthy subjects aged 18–30 years with intact maxillary anterior teeth were included. Tooth color was measured using a spectrophotometer at baseline, during a 30-min dehydration phase, and during a 30-min passive rehydration phase. Color differences ( ΔE ) relative to baseline were calculated, and changes in L *, a *, and b * coordinates in the CIELAB system were analyzed. Dehydration resulted in a progressive increase in ΔE , reaching a maximum of 3.00 ± 1.62 at 30 min, accompanied by increased lightness and reduced chromaticity. During rehydration, ΔE values decreased steadily, approaching baseline levels by 60 min. The results demonstrate that tooth dehydration induces perceptible but largely reversible color changes, highlighting the importance of hydration control during clinical shade selection.