Additive manufacturing (AM) offers precision and efficiency in occlusal splint fabrication; however, the combined influence of build orientation and post-curing duration on the mechanical performance of splint resins remains insufficiently explored. This in vitro experimental study evaluated the effects of three build orientations (0°, 45°, and 90°) and three post-curing protocols (uncured, standard, and extended) on the flexural strength (FS), flexural modulus (FM) and Vickers hardness number (VHN) of a Class IIa biocompatible occlusal splint resin (NextDent Ortho Rigid). A total of 180 specimens were fabricated using a vat polymerization-type 3D printing system. Statistical analyses were conducted using one-way analyses of variance and Tukey’s tests at a significance level of α = 0.05. Both build orientation and post-curing duration significantly affected FS and VHN (p < 0.001). The combination of 45° build orientations and extended post-curing produced the highest FS (169.76 MPa) and FM (7502.17 MPa), exceeding values typically reported for 3D-printed splints, while the 90° orientation with extended curing achieved the highest VHN (21.88). Hardness gains, however, plateaued beyond standard curing, indicating a trade-off between strength and surface hardness. These results demonstrate that print orientation and post-curing time are decisive parameters in optimizing the mechanical performance of 3D-printed occlusal splints. For high-load clinical applications such as bruxism, prioritizing flexural strength over surface hardness may improve appliance longevity, supporting 45° orientation with extended curing as an evidence-based manufacturing approach.

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Çukurova bölgesinde ortodontik tedavi isteğiyle başvuran adölesan hastalarda dişsel ve iskeletsel anomalilerin prevalansını belirlemek ve bu anomalilerin cinsiyet ve yüz tipi ile ilişkisini değerlendirmektir. Yöntem: Bu retrospektif kesitsel çalışma, Çukurova Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi Ortodonti Anabilim Dalı'nın dijital arşivinde bulunan ve Ocak 2012–Nisan 2022 arası döneme tarihlenen 1000 adölesan hastanın kayıtları üzerinden yürütülmüştür. Dişsel anomaliler intraoral fotoğraflar ve panoramik radyograflar, iskeletsel anomaliler ile yüz tipleri lateral sefalometrik radyograflar ve analizler kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Veriler tanımlayıcı istatistiklerle analiz edilmiş, değişkenler arası ilişkiler Ki-kare testiyle incelenmiştir. İstatistiksel anlamlılık düzeyi p