Evaluation of adaptation of the polylactic acid pattern of maxillary complete dentures fabricated by fused deposition modelling technology: A pilot study

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively evaluate maxillary complete dentures fabricated from polylactic acid (PLA) using fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology. METHODS: A digital maxillary complete denture was prepared based on a standard maxillary edentulous plaster model. The PLA pattern was printed by a FDM machine, with 5 repetitions, while another 5 wax patterns were printed as control group, using a high accuracy three-dimensional (3D) wax printer. The patterns were scanned with a 3D scanner. A light-body silicone film was made after each denture pattern had been totally seated on the plaster model, and was scanned to determine its thickness, which reflected the 3D space between the plaster model and the tissue surface of the denture pattern. The overall area was separated into four parts: primary stress-bearing area, secondary stress-bearing area, border seal area and relief area, and the average deviation of these four parts were measured. The values were analyzed by independent t-test. RESULTS: The overall mean value and standard deviation of space between PLA denture patterns and plaster model was 0.277 ± 0.021 mm, while that of the wax denture patterns was 0.279 ± 0.045 mm, which showed a good fit overall. No statistically significant (𝑃 > 0.05) difference was observed between the PLA patterns and wax patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The adaptation of the PLA pattern of maxillary complete denture printed by FDM technology is comparable to that prepared by wax printer, and can satisfy the accuracy requirements.