Dimensional Study of Impacted Maxillary Canine Replicas 3D Printed Using Two Types of Resin Materials

Abstract

3D printing paired with CBCT imaging technology could provide a more individualised approach to orthodontic diagnosis and tratment. The aim of the present study is to asses dimensional differences between the CBCT image and 2 types of 3D printed replicas of an impacted maxillary canine, and to determine whether this method could be used in the future development of customised orthodontic attachments. Ten replicas were printed using the STL file of the impacted canine using two types of resin- five of each, with the same printer. Linear measurements of maximum height, length and width, were made. Mean dimensional erorrs were 0.184 mm and 0.068 mm. The largest discrepancy was in lenght - 0.362 mm. More reasearch is needed, but in this study we obtained printed resin replicas that provide sufficient dimensional accuracy to be used in orthodontics.