Guided Access Cavity Preparation Using Cost-Effective 3D Printers

Abstract

IntroductionThe purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the accuracy and precision of desktop 3D printers when fabricating stents for guided endodontics. MethodsA stent was designed using planning software for guided endodontic access on a typodont model. Four different 3D printers were used to fabricate an identical stent, one per printer. Each stent was then used to gain access to the artificial endodontic canal on a typodont tooth and was repeated 10 times per stent by the same operator. Each of the accessed typodont teeth were scanned by a reference scanner and then imported into the inspection software. Inspection software used a best-fit alignment to automatically calculate absolute deviation at the base and tip of the bur. ResultsThe mean distances between the planned and actual positions of the bur were low, ranging from 0.31 to 0.68 mm. Statistically significant differences were found among the 4 groups (F3,36 = 10.67, P < .05). Post hoc comparison revealed that Group Form2 significantly varied from Groups Form3 and Carbon (P < .05 and P < .05, respectively). Group Form3 obtained the most accurate and most precise axial deviations both coronally and apically. ConclusionsAll of the printers tested produced stents for guided access that allowed for a high level of accuracy in obtaining access to the artificial endodontic canal, which would justify the trial of cost-effective 3D printers for guided endodontic access and necessitates further clinical research on teeth with pulp canal obliteration.