On pre and post-processing of 3D printed ABS thermoplastic sacrificial pattern for strategic dog teeth

The fabrication of dental crowns (DC) for humans with fused filament fabrication (FFF) followed by investment casting (IC) has been the commercial practice for the past 20 years. However, little has been reported on FFF-based 3D printing of DC for strategic teeth (ST) of veterinary patients (VP), especially in assembly fit. The present study highlights the detailed methodology for the preparation of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) DC master pattern (of mandibular first molar (M1) and maxillary fourth pre-molar (PM4) tooth) of a 3-year-old German shepherd dog as a subject. The PM4-M1 combination as ST has geometrical complexity and is important during mastication, requiring tight tolerance to justify assembly fit. This paper explores the role of FFF-based pre-post-processing variables on the geometrical complexity of DC (M1 and PM4) of a dog while assembly in terms of international tolerance (IT) grades. Results of the study suggest that the best settings of FFF for dimensional accuracy (∆d) and surface hardness of master DC pattern prepared are as follows: low part density, 180° orientation angle, and post-treatment temperature of 80 °C (based upon multifactor optimization). The results from this study are supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 3D rendered images, and surface texture profiles.