Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the effect of 3D printing temporary crowns on the single and continuous loss restoration of posterior teeth during secondary implant surgery. METHODS: This study adopted a single-center, randomized, single-blind, parallel-controlled trial design. Thirty patients who were admitted to the Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University between January 2020 and February 2023 and who had >2 consecutive missing posterior teeth were implanted with the same implant system. A simple random method was adopted to assign 30 patients to group A (using 3D-printed temporary crowns) and group B (control group) in a 1:1 ratio, with 15 patients in each group. The final prosthesis in Experimental group A was done based on the adjustment of the temporary crown and tooth. Both groups were compared based on total time, accuracy, and patient satisfaction of the final prosthesis. Additionally, 30 patients who had undergone single posterior tooth implantation during the same period were selected as the study objects and divided into 2 groups using the random comparison table method. The patients in the experimental group C (15 cases) were provided with 3D-printed temporary crowns, and the other 15 patients were assigned to the control group D (15 cases). RESULTS: In the experimental group A, the total time spent on dentures was 10.1 ± 1.3 minutes, which was lesser compared with that spent in the control group B (P < .05). Experimental group A exhibited a significantly higher accuracy of prosthesis (P < .05), as well as significantly higher satisfaction of patients (P < .05). Regarding the food impaction rate, after formal implantation and restoration, the food impaction rate of the experimental group C at 1 month and 6 months was compared with that of the traditional 2-stage surgery group D. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional printing temporary crowns exhibited significantly better therapeutic effects for restoration in patients with continuous missing implants in posterior teeth. 3D printing temporary crowns in patients with single posterior tooth implant restoration showed promising results, which improved food immobilization and actively and effectively reduced the complications associated with a single posterior tooth implant.