Evaluation of Color Stability and Marginal Integrity in Provisional Restorations: A Study of Milling, 3D Printing, and Conventional Fabrication Methods

Abstract

Background: The quality of a provisional restoration, especially its color and marginal integrity, can play a critical role in its survival and overall patient satisfaction. This study aims to evaluate the color stability and marginal fit differences between provisional restorations fabricated by non-traditional methods compared to manual fabrication. Methods: A total of 80 extracted teeth were prepared for ceramic crowns and randomly divided into four groups: acrylic, 3D printing, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), and bis-acryl. The examined teeth were subjected to artificial aging using a thermocycling machine dwelling for 5000 cycles (simulating 6 clinical months). Color stability and marginal integrity were measured before and after thermal aging using a VITA Easyshade V spectrophotometer and 3D surface non-contact profilometer. ANOVA was used to determine whether the mean value difference was significantly different. Results: The 3D-printed and bis-acryl provisional crowns displayed the lowest change in marginal integrity, while the acrylic provisional crowns showed the greatest change in marginal integrity (p = 0.0001). Additionally, the acrylic provisional material revealed a significantly greater color change. Conclusions: The 3D-printed provisional crowns demonstrated the best marginal integrity and color stability.