The effects of rinsing and curing conditions on the biocompatibility of 3-dimensional-printed resin orthodontic brackets

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-28-2026

Publication Title

American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics : official publication of the American Association of Orthodontists, its constituent societies, and the American Board of Orthodontics

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The incorporation of 3-dimensional (3D) printing into orthodontics offers new opportunities for in-office fabrication of resin brackets. However, concerns remain regarding the cytotoxic effects of residual monomers because of incomplete polymerization during postprocessing. This study evaluates the biocompatibility of two 3D-printed dental resins using varying postprocessing protocols. METHODS: Two resins, SprintRay ceramic crown (SprintRay Inc, Los Angeles, Calif) and SprintRay crown (SprintRay Inc), were 3D printed into standardized discs and processed under 3 experimental conditions: (1) no postprint cure vs postprint cure; (2) postprint cured with prolonged rinsing; and (3) air cured vs glycerin cured. Human periodontal ligament fibroblasts were exposed to each disc for 24 hours. Cell viability was evaluated with Calcein AM (Invitrogen,Thermo Scientific, Carlsbad, Calif) staining and fluorescence quantification. Statistical analysis used Student t test with significance set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Uncured discs displayed significantly higher cytotoxicity than cured discs (P < 0.05). Prolonged rinsing for 1 week significantly reduced cytotoxicity in both resins, with no further reduction at 2 weeks. Glycerin immersion during curing further reduced cytotoxicity and eliminated significant differences between the 2 resins (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Postcuring reduces the cytotoxicity of 3D-printed resins, though not entirely. Prolonged rinsing and glycerin immersion significantly improved the biocompatibility. These postprocessing modifications can enhance the clinical biocompatibility of 3D-printed orthodontic brackets and support the need for optimized postprocessing protocols in clinical applications.

First Page

1

Last Page

8

PubMed ID

41902799

Publisher

Elsevier

Comments

Featured in Faculty Publications Display; May 2026

Rights

Copyright © 2026 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS