Oral · Published 2026-07-17 · DOI 10.3390/oral6040091
Ivan Milla Alonso, Maria Antonia Rivero Gonzalez, Cristina Gomez-Polo, Alicia Celemin Viñuela
<b>Objective</b>: The objective of this study was to evaluate the chromatic effect of two post-curing protocols, (1) manufacturer-recommended standard post-curing (SPC) and (2) standard post-curing plus an additional post-curing cycle (APC), on three types of 3D-printed resins for provisional crowns. <b>Methods</b>: Ninety provisional crowns were printed (<i>n</i> = 30 per resin type-Power Resins Temp, Freeprint Temp, and NextDent C&B) and divided into two groups: SPC (19 min at 30 °C, <i>n</i> = 15 per group) and APC (19 min + 19 min at 30 °C, <i>n</i> = 15 per group). Color coordinates (L*, a*, and b*) were recorded using a spectrophotometer before and after each post-curing protocol to calculate the total color difference (ΔE). Data were analyzed using paired <i>t</i>-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and one-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). <b>Results</b>: After APC, statistically significant changes were observed in the b* coordinate, indicating a lower yellowing tendency for Freeprint Temp (<i>p</i> = 0.018) and NextDent C&B (<i>p</i> = 0.023). No significant changes were found in L* and a* coordinates. However, the total color difference (ΔE) remained below the clinical acceptability threshold (ΔE < 3.3) in all groups. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in ΔE between the resin brands (<i>p</i> = 0.914). <b>Conclusions</b>: An additional post-curing protocol is a safe procedure from a chromatic standpoint, as it does not compromise the chromatic esthetic outcomes of 3D provisional resins. Clinical Significance: The additional post-curing protocol does not compromise the immediate aesthetic appearance of 3D-printed provisional resins, confirming its optical safety during laboratory processing. Nevertheless, validating its long-term mechanical stability and behavior under simulated oral conditions remains necessary prior to full clinical implementation.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
Read the article at the publisher →
Alonso, I., Gonzalez, M., Gomez-Polo, C., et al. (2026). Effect of Additional Post-Curing on the Color Stability of 3D-Printed Provisional Crown Resins: An In Vitro Study. Oral. https://doi.org/10.3390/oral6040091