Development of 3D-printable restorative material with hardness comparable to human enamel

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21685
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 57:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyushu Dental College
• Principal Investigator: Ikeda Hiroshi 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 准教授 (80621599)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 3Dプリント / 積層造形 / 付加造形 / エナメル質 / 生体模倣 / 歯冠修復

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to develop 3D-printed crown with hardness comparable to human enamel. A precursor for 3D printing containing silica nanoparticles was prepared and printed by using SLA 3D-printer. The object was sintered and infiltrated with resin monomers followed by heat-polymerization. The resultant 3D-printed crown composed of a polymer-infiltrated ceramic was characterized by mechanical and physicochemical properties. The result showed that the 3D-printed crown exhibited Vickers hardness equivalent to enamel and elastic modulus equivalent to dentin. Physicochemical properties were acceptable for practical use. The results suggest that the 3D-printed crown is alternative candidate for tooth restorative material.

Free Research Field

生体材料学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

新しく開発した3Dプリント冠は、エナメル質や象牙質などの歯質に近い物性をもつ。このような材料はこれまで報告されていない。新規3Dプリント冠は新しい修復用材料として期待できる。優れた特徴を活用できれば、金銀パラジウム合金の代替材料となる可能性があると考えられる。