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An in vitro study evaluated the fracture resistance of four CAD/CAM restorative materials: lithium disilicate ceramic (IPS e.max CAD, EM), hybrid ceramic (Vita Enamic, VE), a polymer-based composite (Cerasmart, CS), and a novel 3D-printed resin (Ceramic Crown, CC) fabricated using digital press stereolithography (DPS) technology. Standardized full-coverage crowns were designed and manufactured for each material. All specimens underwent thermocycling and fracture testing using a universal testing machine. EM exhibited the highest fracture resistance (mean: 440.49 N), while VE showed the lowest (173.82 N). CS (265.49 N) and CC (306.76 N) presented intermediate values without statistically significant differences between them. Stereomicroscopic analysis revealed differences in fracture patterns, with IPS e.max CAD showing smooth, brittle fractures, while hybrid and polymer-based materials exhibited tortuous fracture surfaces. These results suggest that DPS technology achieves mechanical performance for Ceramic Crown comparable to that of milled polymer-based composites, while offering production advantages in terms of time efficiency. As one of the first studies to evaluate Ceramic Crown and DPS technology, these findings provide initial insights into their mechanical behavior. However, further studies are required to validate their clinical performance before widespread use can be recommended.
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; Freire Bonilla Cinthya 2 ; Vidal Sebastián 3
; Rosero Fabián 4 ; Encalada Abad Carolina 3
; Mena Córdova Nancy 2 ; Paltán, César A 5
; Fajardo, Jorge I 5
; Aliaga Paulina 2 1 CAD/CAM and Digital Dentistry Research Group, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador; [email protected] (S.V.); [email protected] (C.E.A.), Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador; [email protected] (C.F.B.); [email protected] (N.M.C.); [email protected] (P.A.)
2 Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador; [email protected] (C.F.B.); [email protected] (N.M.C.); [email protected] (P.A.)
3 CAD/CAM and Digital Dentistry Research Group, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador; [email protected] (S.V.); [email protected] (C.E.A.)
4 Private Practice, Quito 170517, Ecuador; [email protected]
5 Mechanical Enginnering New Materials and Transformation Processes Research Group (GiMaT), Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca 170517, Ecuador; [email protected] (C.A.P.); [email protected] (J.I.F.)