Are printed denture materials as good as milled or traditionally processed dentures?
Milled vs 3D Printed Digital Denture Comparison Grid
| Physical Property | Milled Denture | 3D Printed Denture | Traditional Denture |
| Fit Accuracy | Superior (best available with PMMA) |
Good (depends on printer calibration and post-processing) |
Fair (polymerization shrinkage creates discrepancies) |
| Flexural Strength | 90-110 MPa (excellent) | 70-95 MPa (good, variable by resin) |
60-80 MPa (adequate) |
| Impact Resistance | Excellent (rarely fractures from drops) |
Good (improved from early resins) |
Fair (brittle, fractures from impact) |
| Surface Hardness | Excellent (dense pre-polymerized material) |
Variable (some systems are excellent, others vary) |
Good (but depends on processing technique) |
| Color Stability | Excellent (stable over years) |
Good to excellent (current generation much improved) |
Good (but staining risk if surface porous) |
| Water Sorption | Very low (dense material) |
Low to moderate (variable by resin) |
Low to moderate (depends on processing) |
| Stain Resistance | Excellent (smooth dense surface) |
Good (dramatic improvement from first generation) |
Good (if properly polished) |
| Surface Roughness | Very smooth and consistent | Highly variable (some systems smooth, others rough) |
Good (if properly finished) |
Additional Resources
For more information concerning the digital dentures:
Contact Information
For help with a digital denture solution for your next case, contact ROE Dental Laboratory:
- Phone: (216) 663-2233
- Email: info@roedentallab.com