Compressive and flexural strength of provisional crown materials fabricated by conventional and 3D printing techniques: An in vitro study

Purpose: To compare the mechanical properties of the new 3D Accuprint C&B resin against both conventional and other 3D-printed resins to determine its viability for provisional crown fabrication. Materials and methods: Three materials were selected for comparison: GC Tempron (conventional), 3D Accuprint C&B, and Freeprint Temp (3D-printed resins). Fifteen cylindrical specimens (6 mm × 4 mm) were prepared from each material for compressive strength testing, and fifteen rectangular specimens (25 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm) were fabricated for flexural strength testing as per the manufacturer's instructions. Testing was performed using a universal testing machine. The recorded compressive and flexural strength values were statistically analyzed after confirming normality (Shapiro-Wilk test) and homogeneity (Levene's test). All statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics software (version 25), with the level of significance set at p < 0.05. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's HSD test. Results: Significant intergroup differences were found for both compressive and flexural strength (p < 0.001). GC Tempron showed significantly lower values compared with both 3D printed materials (p < 0.001). Freeprint Temp and 3D Accuprint did not differ significantly (compressive strength, p = 0.84; flexural strength, p = 0.15). Conclusions: 3D Accuprint C&B demonstrated superior mechanical strength compared to GC Tempron and comparable properties to Freeprint Temp. These findings confirm its mechanical viability as a high-performance alternative, making it better suited for durable provisional restorations, particularly in cases involving high resistance to stress, parafunctional habits, or implant-supported prostheses.