Influence of postprinting cleaning methods on the cleaning efficiency and surface and mechanical properties of three-dimensionally printed resins

Ok Hyung Nam; Sang-Yeop Chung; Hong-Keun Hyun; Ju Ri Ye; Yuwon Jeong; Seo-Eun Oh; Yong Kwon Chae; Hyeonjong Lee

doi:10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.02.026

Influence of postprinting cleaning methods on the cleaning efficiency and surface and mechanical properties of three-dimensionally printed resins

J Prosthet Dent. 2024 Apr 5:S0022-3913(24)00151-3. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.02.026. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ok Hyung Nam¹, Sang-Yeop Chung², Hong-Keun Hyun³, Ju Ri Ye⁴, Yuwon Jeong⁵, Seo-Eun Oh⁶, Yong Kwon Chae⁷, Hyeonjong Lee⁸

Affiliations

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, College of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; and Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
² Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
³ Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Department of Dentistry, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁵ PhD student, Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁶ PhD student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁷ Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, College of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁸ Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: prostho.hjlee@gmail.com.

PMID: 38582709
DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2024.02.026

Abstract

Statement of problem: The outcome of photopolymerized 3-dimensional (3D) printing is influenced by the methods used for postprinting cleaning, yet information on postprinting cleaning is sparse.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the cleaning efficiency and surface and mechanical properties of 3D printed resin according to postprinting cleaning methods.

Material and methods: Specimens were fabricated from a 3D model using resin materials (NextDent C&B MFH and DIOnavi-P. MAX) and were tested for postprinting cleaning methods for 5 minutes with isopropyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol + ultrasonic, ethyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol + ultrasonic, and ultrasonic alone. Postpolymerization was followed for 5 minutes. The cleaning efficiency, microcomputed tomography (µCT), surface roughness, Vickers hardness, and flexural strength of the specimens were evaluated. The 1-way ANOVA test was performed after considering normality. A post hoc analysis with Bonferroni was also performed (α=.008 or.005).

Results: Ultrasonic in addition to cleaning solutions significantly improved the cleaning efficiency in NextDent C&B MFH specimens (P<.005), whereas ultrasonic did not affect the efficiency in DIOnavi-P. MAX specimens. No significant differences were found in surface roughness by postprinting cleaning methods in either NextDent C&B MFH or DIOnavi-P. MAX (P>.005). No significant changes in surface hardness were observed by postprinting cleaning methods (P>.008). In the NextDent C&B MFH, ethyl alcohol + ultrasonic significantly decreased the flexural strength (P<.005). There were no significant differences in the flexural strength in the DIOnavi-P. MAX (P>.005).

Conclusions: Ethyl alcohol was comparable with isopropyl alcohol for use as a postprinting cleaning solution for both NextDent C&B MFH and DIOnavi-P. MAX. The addition of ultrasonic to cleaning solutions should be applied with caution. These findings suggest that different postprinting cleaning methods can be recommended depending on the 3D printed resin materials.