Mechanical compression testing for three-dimensionally printed orthodontic springs with different coil numbers: in vitro study.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Research Center for Digital Technologies in Dentistry and CAD/CAM, Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Danube Private University, 3500 Krems, Austria.

2 Private Dental Practice, Vienna, Austria.

3 Researcher in the Research Center for Digital Technologies in Dentistry and CAD/CAM, Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Danube Private University, 3500 Krems, Austria.

4 Private Practice, Waldbroel, Germany and researcher in Research Center for Digital Technologies in Dentistry and CAD/CAM, Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Danube Private University, 3500 Krems, Austria.

5 Professor and Director of Research Center for Digital Technologies in Dentistry and CAD/CAM, Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Danube Private University, 3500 Krems, Austria.

Abstract

Objective: Purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of different design parameters regarding the number of coils for orthodontic 3D printed springs using the computer aided design/ computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. Materials and Methods: Test specimens using 3D printable experimental flexible material (Code: BM2008, GC, Tokyo, Japan) were printed using 3D printer MAX (Asiga, Sydney, Australia). The specimens were divided into five groups according to their coil numbers, including a control group C with four coils (n=10), group A with two coils (n=10), group B with three coils (n=10), group D with five coils (n=10) and group E with six coils (n=10). All specimens were mechanically tested using Zwick Z010 machine (Ulm, Germany) and digitally designed using Autodesk Netfabb CAD software (San Rafael, CA, USA). Statistical analysis was performed using t-test to compare the values of the groups (p < 0.001). Results: The highest value in all groups was achieved by 6.23N/mm in group B while the lowest value was achieved by 0.87N/mm in group E. Moreover, significant results can only be detected between groups A and B when compared to master group C (p < 0.001). Step-wise compression testing with 0,1mm steps, each with 5 minutes holding time, was conducted with 10 steps for each group with the exception of group A, which was tested with 5 steps. Conclusion: 3D printed springs are mechanically affected by the number of coils. The smaller the coil numbers, the higher is the significance level (p < 0.001).

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