Chemical treatment in 3D dental model production for clear aligners via additive manufacturing: a comprehensive evaluation
ISSN: 1355-2546
Article publication date: 6 May 2024
Issue publication date: 1 July 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Stereolithography (SLA) additive manufacturing (AM) technique has enabled the production of inconspicuous and aesthetically pleasing orthodontics that are also hygienic. However, the staircase effect poses a challenge to the application of invisible orthodontics in the dental industry. The purpose of this study is to implement chemical postprocessing technique by using isopropyl alcohol as a solvent to overcome this challenge.
Design/methodology/approach
Fifteen experiments were conducted using a D-optimal design to investigate the effect of different concentrations and postprocessing times on the surface roughness, material removal rate (MRR), hardness and cost of SLA dental parts required for creating a clear customized aligner, and a container was constructed for chemical treatment of these parts made from photocurable resin.
Findings
The study revealed that the chemical postprocessing technique can significantly improve the surface roughness of dental SLA parts, but improper selection of concentration and time can lead to poor surface roughness. The optimal surface roughness was achieved with a concentration of 90 and a time of 37.5. Moreover, the dental part with the lowest concentration and time (60% and 15 min, respectively) had the lowest MRR and the highest hardness. The part with the highest concentration and time required the greatest budget allocation. Finally, the results of the multiobjective optimization analysis aligned with the experimental data.
Originality/value
This paper sheds light on a previously underestimated aspect, which is the pivotal role of chemical postprocessing in mitigating the adverse impact of stair case effect. This nuanced perspective contributes to the broader discourse on AM methodologies, establishing a novel pathway for advancing the capabilities of SLA in dental application.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Sadra medical photography in Tehran, Iran, and Dr Amirhossein Mirhashemi for their dental science support.
Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Conflicts of interest: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Availability of data and material: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article.
Code availability: Not applicable.
Ethics approval: Not applicable.
Consent to participate: Not applicable.
Consent for publication: Not applicable.
Citation
Ehteshamfar, M.V., Kiadarbandsari, A., Ataee, A., Ghozati, K. and Bagherkhani, M.A. (2024), "Chemical treatment in 3D dental model production for clear aligners via additive manufacturing: a comprehensive evaluation", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 30 No. 6, pp. 1121-1136. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-08-2023-0300
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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