Tecnologia digital em próteses totais: propriedades dos materiais CAD-CAM e desenvolvimento de uma patente de inovação para simplificação do fluxo de trabalho

Abstract

Digital features like subtractive and additive manufacturing can promote breakthroughs by reducing the time and cost of making complete dentures (CDs). Thus, this study aims to investigate surface characteristics (roughness and contact angle), mechanical properties (mini-flexural strength), and biofilm adhesion on computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) PMMA polymer, and threedimensional (3D) printed resin for denture´s base fabrication as well as to propose an innovative workflow. For in vitro analysis, a total of 60 discs and 40 rectangular specimens were fabricated from one CAD-CAM pre-polymerized PMMA disc (GF), one 3D-printed (GI), and two conventional heat-polymerized (GCL and GCM) materials for denture base fabrication. Roughness was determined by the Ra value; the contact angle was measured by the sessile drop method; the mini-flexural strength test was a three-point bending test while the biofilm formation inhibition behavior was analyzed through C. albicans adhesion. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics (α = 0.05). Results showed that GI specimens presented the highest surface roughness (Ra: 0.317 ± 0.151 μm) and lowest mini-flexural strength values (57.23 ± 9.07 MPa) and the GF showed the lowest C. albicans adhesion (log CFU/mL: 3.74 ± 0.57) and highest mini-flexural strength mean (114.96 ± 16.23 MPa). There was no statistical difference between GF and conventional groups for roughness, contact angle, and mini-flexural strength. In turn, the presented novel workflow for complete dentures fabrication reached a three appointments protocol in which preliminary impressions were made in the 1st session, all together to maxillary registration of lip support, occlusal plane, and reference lines for teeth arrangement. A trial denture was manufactured and evaluated by the 2nd appointment through conventional or CAD-CAM procedures, allowing esthetics evaluation, final impression, and maxillomandibular relationship record and providing precise references for final dentures fabrication. Based on the findings of this in vitro study, GF presented surface and mechanical properties similar to conventional resins and show improved behavior preventing C. albicans adhesion, while GI specimens exhibited the lowest flexural strength, and highest surface roughness. The proposed device for CD´s fabrication clinical procedures reached feasibility and by simplifying available techniques, this protocol could achieve reliability and predictability to produce complete dentures with reduced working time.