Problem Several types of 3D printers with different techniques and prices are available
on the market. However, results in the literature are inconsistent, and there is no
comprehensive agreement on the accuracy of 3D printers of different price categories
for dental applications. Aim This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of five
different 3D printing systems, including a comparison of budget- and higher-end 3D
printing systems, according to a standardized production and evaluation protocol.
Material and methods A maxillary reference model with prepared teeth was created using
16 half-ball markers with a diameter of 1 mm to facilitate measurements. A reference
file was fabricated using five different 3D printers. The printed models were scanned
and superimposed onto the original standard tesselation language (.stl) file, and
digital measurements were performed to assess the 3-dimensional and linear deviations
between the reference and test models. Results After examining the entire surface
of the models, we found that 3D printers using Fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology
−120.2 (20.3) μm create models with high trueness but high distortion. Distortions
along the z-axis were found to be the highest with the stereolithography (SLA)-type
3D printer at −153.7 (38.7) μm. For the 4-unit FPD, we found 201.9 (41.8) μm deviation
with the digital light processing (DLP) printer. The largest deviation (−265.1 (55.4)
μm) between the second molars was observed for the DLP printer. Between the incisor
and the second molar, the best results were produced by the FFF printer with −30.5
(76.7) μm. Conclusion Budget-friendly 3D printers are comparable to professional-grade
printers in terms of precision. In general, the cost of a printing system is not a
reliable indicator of its level of accuracy.
