Accuracy of provisional crowns made using stereolithography apparatus and subtractive technique

PURPOSE. To compare and analyze trueness and precision of provisional crowns made using stereolithography apparatus and subtractive technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Digital impressions were made using a master model and an intraoral scanner and the crowns were designed with CAD software; in total, 22 crowns were produced. After superimposing CAD design data and scan data using a 3D program, quantitative and qualitative data were obtained for analysis of trueness and precision. Statistical analysis was performed using normality test combined with Levene test for equal variance analysis and independent sample t-test. Type 1 error was set at 0.05. RESULTS. Trueness for the outer and inner surfaces of the SLA crown (SLAC) were $49.6{\pm}9.3{\mu}m$ and $22.5{\pm}5.1{\mu}m$, respectively, and those of the subtractive crown (SUBC) were $31.8{\pm}7.5{\mu}m$ and $14.6{\pm}1.2{\mu}m$, respectively. Precision values for the outer and inner surfaces of the SLAC were $18.7{\pm}6.2{\mu}m$ and $26.9{\pm}8.5{\mu}m$, and those of the SUBC were $25.4{\pm}3.1{\mu}m$ and $13.8{\pm}0.6{\mu}m$, respectively. Trueness values for the outer and inner surfaces of the SLAC and SUBC showed statistically significant differences (P<.001). Precision for the inner surface showed significance (P<.03), whereas that for the outer surface showed no significance (P<.58). CONCLUSION. The study demonstrates that provisional crowns produced by subtractive technology are superior to crowns fabricated by stereolithography in terms of accuracy.