Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Their Applications in Dentistry: A Systematic Literature Review

Additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a transformative technology in dentistry, enabling the production of patient-specific dental applications with reduced costs and fabrication times. Despite the growth of applications, a consolidated understanding of current 3D printing technologies, materia...

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Main Authors: Dragana Oros, Marko Penčić, Marko Orošnjak, Slawomir Kedziora
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8346
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author Dragana Oros
Marko Penčić
Marko Orošnjak
Slawomir Kedziora
author_facet Dragana Oros
Marko Penčić
Marko Orošnjak
Slawomir Kedziora
author_sort Dragana Oros
collection DOAJ
description Additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a transformative technology in dentistry, enabling the production of patient-specific dental applications with reduced costs and fabrication times. Despite the growth of applications, a consolidated understanding of current 3D printing technologies, materials, and performance in dental settings remains fragmented. Here, we perform a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) using the PRISMA protocol, retrieving 19 closely related primary studies. The evidence is synthesized across three axes: application domain, AM technology, and critical quality parameters. Dental restorations, prosthetics, crowns, and implants are the most common applications, while fused deposition modeling, stereolithography, digital light processing, selective laser sintering, and laser-directed energy deposition are the most used technologies. AM materials include polymers, metals, and emerging biomaterials. Key quality determinants include dimensional accuracy, wear and corrosion resistance, and photosensitivity. Notably, biocompatibility and cytotoxicity remain underexplored yet critical factors for ensuring long-term clinical safety. The evidence also suggests a lack of in vivo studies, insufficient tribological and microbiological testing, including limited data degradation pathways of AM materials under oral conditions. Understanding that there are disconnects between the realization of the clinical and the economic benefits of 3D printing in dentistry, future research requires standardized testing frameworks and long-term biocompatibility validation.
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spelling doaj-art-52ecdc4d4064488fa428eac466866fbc2025-08-20T03:02:55ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011515834610.3390/app15158346Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Their Applications in Dentistry: A Systematic Literature ReviewDragana Oros0Marko Penčić1Marko Orošnjak2Slawomir Kedziora3Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, L-1359 Luxembourg, LuxembourgFaculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, L-1359 Luxembourg, LuxembourgAdditive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a transformative technology in dentistry, enabling the production of patient-specific dental applications with reduced costs and fabrication times. Despite the growth of applications, a consolidated understanding of current 3D printing technologies, materials, and performance in dental settings remains fragmented. Here, we perform a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) using the PRISMA protocol, retrieving 19 closely related primary studies. The evidence is synthesized across three axes: application domain, AM technology, and critical quality parameters. Dental restorations, prosthetics, crowns, and implants are the most common applications, while fused deposition modeling, stereolithography, digital light processing, selective laser sintering, and laser-directed energy deposition are the most used technologies. AM materials include polymers, metals, and emerging biomaterials. Key quality determinants include dimensional accuracy, wear and corrosion resistance, and photosensitivity. Notably, biocompatibility and cytotoxicity remain underexplored yet critical factors for ensuring long-term clinical safety. The evidence also suggests a lack of in vivo studies, insufficient tribological and microbiological testing, including limited data degradation pathways of AM materials under oral conditions. Understanding that there are disconnects between the realization of the clinical and the economic benefits of 3D printing in dentistry, future research requires standardized testing frameworks and long-term biocompatibility validation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8346additive manufacturing3D printing technologydentistrydental applicationdental prostheticsdental implant
spellingShingle Dragana Oros
Marko Penčić
Marko Orošnjak
Slawomir Kedziora
Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Their Applications in Dentistry: A Systematic Literature Review
Applied Sciences
additive manufacturing
3D printing technology
dentistry
dental application
dental prosthetics
dental implant
title Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Their Applications in Dentistry: A Systematic Literature Review
title_full Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Their Applications in Dentistry: A Systematic Literature Review
title_fullStr Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Their Applications in Dentistry: A Systematic Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Their Applications in Dentistry: A Systematic Literature Review
title_short Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Their Applications in Dentistry: A Systematic Literature Review
title_sort additive manufacturing technologies and their applications in dentistry a systematic literature review
topic additive manufacturing
3D printing technology
dentistry
dental application
dental prosthetics
dental implant
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8346
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AT markopencic additivemanufacturingtechnologiesandtheirapplicationsindentistryasystematicliteraturereview
AT markoorosnjak additivemanufacturingtechnologiesandtheirapplicationsindentistryasystematicliteraturereview
AT slawomirkedziora additivemanufacturingtechnologiesandtheirapplicationsindentistryasystematicliteraturereview