The Color Stability of 3D-Printed and Milled Zirconia Crowns

Abstract

Purpose: This is an in vitro study on the color stability of 3D-printed and milled zirconia crowns. Materials and Methods: A total of 18 samples were tested, 9 milled and 9 printed zirconia crowns. Change in color (ΔE) was assessed before and after samples were soaked in solutions of coffee, chlorhexidine and distilled water for a simulated period of 1 week. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare between the groups. Results: There was a significant difference (P = .003) between ΔE of samples soaked in chlorohexidine (4.24 ±3.62) versus coffee (8.84 ±7.48) and between ΔE of samples milled (1.64 ±1.12) versus printed (11.11 ±3.96, P ≤ .0001). Conclusion: Printed zirconia crowns are more susceptible to staining than milled crowns. Printed zirconia crowns appeared noticeably darker when soaked in coffee and lighter when soaked in distilled water and chlorohexidine.