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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Dent. Med
Sec. Reconstructive Dentistry
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fdmed.2025.1512887
This article is part of the Research Topic Prospects of 3D Printing in Fabricating Future Generations of Dental Prostheses View all articles

Additive-manufactured Ceramics for Dental Restorations: A Systematic Review on Mechanical Perspective

Provisionally accepted
Yuqing Lu Yuqing Lu 1Anouk van Steenoven Anouk van Steenoven 1Amanda Maria de Oliveira Dal Piva Amanda Maria de Oliveira Dal Piva 1João Paulo Mendes Tribst João Paulo Mendes Tribst 2*Li Wang Li Wang 3Cornelis J Kleverlaan Cornelis J Kleverlaan 1Albert J Feilzer Albert J Feilzer 4
  • 1 Department of Dental Materials Science, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • 2 Department of Reconstructive Oral Care, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • 3 Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Food Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Engineering & Institute of Advanced Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China
  • 4 Department of Dental Materials Science & Department of Reconstructive Oral Care, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, Netherlands

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Additive manufacturing (AM) is rapidly expanding as a substitute for conventional heat-pressing and milling techniques for ceramic restorations. However, experimental and clinical evidence on the mechanical properties and performance of the final ceramic products is yet insufficient. This systematic review aimed to update the latest advances in additive manufacturing of restorative ceramics with a focus on their mechanical properties. Methods: This systematic review was structured using the 5-step methodology based on the research question: what are the mechanical properties of additive-manufactured restorative ceramics in comparison with subtractive manufacturing? The electronic literature search was performed independently by 2 authors in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus. Published articles from 2019 to 2023 were screened, analysed and the relevant papers were selected for inclusion in this review. Results: A total of 40 studies were included. The available ceramics include zirconia, alumina and alumina-zirconia composites, lithium disilicate, porcelain and fluorapatite glass ceramic. The mechanical properties were summarized according to material and technique: density (15 studies), flexural strength (31 studies), fracture toughness (7 studies), Young's modulus (7 studies), hardness (11 studies) and performance (7 studies). Overall, the properties exhibited an upward trend toward the values of conventional techniques. Typical processing defects, including porosity, agglomerates, cracks, surface roughness, and other defects, were also addressed. Conclusions: With significant technological advancements, the mechanical properties of AM ceramics have come close to ceramics by conventional manufacturing, whereas their reliability, the influence of printing layer orientations, and long-term performance still need further investigation.

    Keywords: Additive manufacturing, Prosthodontics, Dental restoration, Ceramics, strength, Vat photopolymerization

    Received: 17 Oct 2024; Accepted: 17 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Lu, van Steenoven, Dal Piva, Tribst, Wang, Kleverlaan and Feilzer. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: João Paulo Mendes Tribst, Department of Reconstructive Oral Care, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.