Coffee Staining and Simulated Brushing Induced Color Changes and Surface Roughness of 3D-Printed Orthodontic Retainer Material

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 15; no. 9; p. 2164
• Main Authors: Bangalore, Durgesh, Alshehri, Abdullah M, Alsadon, Omar, Alaqeel, Samer M, Alageel, Omar, Alsarani, Majed M, Almansour, Haitham, AlShahrani, Obaid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.05.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: 3-D printers; 3D printing; Analysis; Brushing; Coffee; color; Hypotheses; Identification and classification; Influence; Manufacturers; Manufacturing; Methods; Orthodontic appliances; orthodontic retainer; Orthodontics; Patients; Properties; Retention; Simulation; Staining; Staphylococcus infections; stereolithography; Surface roughness; Teeth; Three dimensional printing; tooth brushing; Toothbrushing; Vacuum forming; Saudi Arabia; United States > US; tooth brushing; color; orthodontic retainer; 3D printing; surface roughness; stereolithography
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym15092164

This in vitro study evaluated the influence of combined coffee staining and simulated brushing-induced color changes and surface roughness on 3D-printed orthodontic retainers. Specimens measuring 10 × 10 × 0.75 mm were obtained either by conventional vacuum forming or 3D printing at four print angulations (0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°) (n = 10). The prepared specimens were immersed in a coffee beverage and then mechanically brushed using a simulating device. The specimen's color difference (ΔE) and surface roughness (Ra) were quantified using a spectrophotometer and a non-contact profilometer, respectively. The highest and lowest mean ΔE values were recorded for the 3D-printed-45° (4.68 ± 2.07) and conventional (2.18 ± 0.87) groups, respectively. The overall mean comparison of ΔE between the conventional and 3D-printed groups was statistically significant ( < 0.01). After simulated brushing, all groups showed a statistically significant increase in the Ra values ( < 0.01). The highest Ra was in the 3D-printed-45° (1.009 ± 0.13 µm) and conventional (0.743 ± 0.12 µm) groups, respectively. The overall ΔE of 3D-printed orthodontic retainers was not comparable to conventional VFRs. Among the different angulations used to print the retainers, 15° angulations were the most efficient in terms of color changes and surface roughness and were comparable to conventional VFRs.