Comparative Evaluation of Accuracy of Milled Temporary Crowns using Metrology Software: An In vitro Study

Abstract

Context: This study compared the accuracy of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) milled temporary dental crowns using Metrology software. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dimensional accuracy of CAD/CAM milled temporary crowns by analyzing gap distances across different areas of interest (AOIs). Settings and Design: In vitro laboratory study using a mandibular molar typodont tooth model was used. Methods: A digital crown design was created using ExoCAD software. Temporary crowns were milled from polymethyl methacrylate using CAD/CAM technology. The milled crowns were scanned and compared to the original design using Geomagic Control X metrology software. Gap distances were measured across six AOIs. Statistical Analysis Used: Paired t-tests were performed to compare gap distances between the master STL file and rescanned STL files for each AOI. Results: Mean root mean square values for the AOIs ranged from 0.040 mm to 0.076 mm. No statistically significant differences were found across the six AOIs (P > 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions: CAD/CAM milling technology can produce temporary crowns with reliable dimensional accuracy across different areas of the prosthesis. This suggests that milled temporary crowns may offer clinicians a dependable option for interim restorations.

Keywords

• computer-aided design
• dental crowns
• dental marginal adaptation
• dental prosthesis
• dental technology
• polymethyl methacrylate
• temporary