Physiomechanical and Surface Characteristics of 3D-Printed Zirconia: An In Vitro Study (original) (raw)

The objective of this study is to examine the physiomechanical and surface properties of 3D-printed zirconia in comparison to milled zirconia. A total of 80 disc-shaped (14 × 1.5 ± 0.2 mm) specimens (20 milled and 60 3D-printed (at three different orientations; horizontal, vertical, and tilted)) were manufactured from 3-mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia. Five specimens per group were evaluated for crystalline phase, grain size, density, porosity, surface roughness, wettability, microhardness, and SEM analysis of the surface. Biaxial flexural strength (BFS) was measured (n = 15) followed by Weibull analysis and SEM of fractured surfaces. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test at α = 0.05. All groups showed a predominant tetragonal phase, with a 450 nm average grain size. There was no significant difference between groups with regards to density, porosity, and microhardness (p > 0.05). The tilted group had the highest surface rough...