Advisor(s)

Nathaniel Lawson

Committee Member(s)

Amjad Javed
Augusto Robles Ibazeta
Ramakiran Chavali

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

6-18-2026

Degree Name

Master of Science in Dentistry (MSDent)

School

School of Dentistry

Department

Dentistry

Abstract

Additive manufacturing has become increasingly utilized in dentistry for the fabrication of definitive restorations and provisional prostheses. However, the performance of 3D-printed materials is highly dependent on post-processing procedures, particularly post-curing, which influences the degree of polymerization and final material properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different post-curing protocols on the mechanical performance and color stability of a 3D-printed dental restorative material.Disc-shaped specimens were fabricated using a digital light processing (DLP) 3D printer and subjected to various post-curing conditions, including standard dental LED curing, nitrogen-assisted curing, glycerin immersion curing, Phrozen UV curing, VALO LED curing, and a no post-curing control group. Biaxial flexural strength was measured to evaluate mechanical performance. For the color stability analysis, specimens were divided into polished and unpolished groups prior to staining procedures. Color change was quantified using the CIEDE2000 (ΔE₀₀) color difference formula. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests with a significance level of α = 0.05. post-curing protocol significantly influenced biaxial flexural strength and color stability. The highest mechanical strength values were observed in the Phrozen UV and VALO LED curing groups. Polished specimens demonstrated significantly lower color change values compared with unpolished specimens, indicating improved resistance to staining. Differences among post-curing protocols are likely related to variations in radiant energy delivery, irradiance distribution, and curing environment. Within the limitations of this study, optimization of post-curing protocols plays a critical role in improving the mechanical and optical properties of 3D-printed dental restorative materials.

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