Rapid Prototyping in Fixed Partial Denture (FPD) Prosthodontics — A Review

  • Unique Paper ID: 185532
  • PageNo: 2028-2032
  • Abstract:
  • Rapid prototyping (RP) and additive manufacturing (AM; commonly “3D printing”) have transformed dental laboratory workflows, offering new approaches for the design and fabrication of fixed partial dentures (FPDs). RP technologies—stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), selective laser sintering/melting (SLS/SLM), material jetting and binder-jetting—enable layer-by-layer fabrication of models, patterns, frameworks and definitive restorations. This review summarizes RP technologies and materials relevant to FPD prosthodontics, evaluates accuracy and fit data, discusses clinical workflows and limitations, and outlines future directions including directly printed ceramics and hybrid production routes. Evidence suggests that RP-produced single-unit and short-span FPDs can achieve clinically acceptable marginal and internal fits comparable to conventional and milled restorations in many settings, while larger-span frameworks and long-term mechanical performance remain active areas of research. Practical considerations for clinicians and technicians are emphasized to harness RP safely and effectively in FPD practice.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{185532,
        author = {Curina Fredy and Ananda Deeban Kuttuva Balasubramanian Sivaprakashbabu and Annapoorni Hariharan},
        title = {Rapid Prototyping in Fixed Partial Denture (FPD) Prosthodontics — A Review},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {5},
        pages = {2028-2032},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=185532},
        abstract = {Rapid prototyping (RP) and additive manufacturing (AM; commonly “3D printing”) have transformed dental laboratory workflows, offering new approaches for the design and fabrication of fixed partial dentures (FPDs). RP technologies—stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), selective laser sintering/melting (SLS/SLM), material jetting and binder-jetting—enable layer-by-layer fabrication of models, patterns, frameworks and definitive restorations. This review summarizes RP technologies and materials relevant to FPD prosthodontics, evaluates accuracy and fit data, discusses clinical workflows and limitations, and outlines future directions including directly printed ceramics and hybrid production routes. Evidence suggests that RP-produced single-unit and short-span FPDs can achieve clinically acceptable marginal and internal fits comparable to conventional and milled restorations in many settings, while larger-span frameworks and long-term mechanical performance remain active areas of research. Practical considerations for clinicians and technicians are emphasized to harness RP safely and effectively in FPD practice.},
        keywords = {rapid prototyping, 3D printing, additive manufacturing, fixed partial denture, prosthodontics, stereolithography, selective laser sintering, zirconia, CAD/CAM},
        month = {October},
        }

Cite This Article

Fredy, C., & Sivaprakashbabu, A. D. K. B., & Hariharan, A. (2025). Rapid Prototyping in Fixed Partial Denture (FPD) Prosthodontics — A Review. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT). https://doi.org/doi.org/10.64643/IJIRTV12I5-185532-459

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