A Comparative Gap Analysis Study using Stereomicroscopy between Screw Retained Zirconia Frameworks, TILOP Selective Laser Sintering Frameworks and Conventional Cast Metal Frameworks

Background: The target of this in vitro study was to compare and analyze the gap between abutment finish lines and implant analogues using stereomicroscope between three different screw retained frameworks; Zirconia Frameworks, TILOP45 Selective Laser Sintering Frameworks and Conventional Cast Metal Frameworks
Materials and Methods: This In-vitro study involved the construction of a total of eight models. Three screw-retained frameworks were constructed on each model hence creating three groups; Group A, B and C. For Group A: Screw-retained frameworks were constructed using the conventional cast metal technology as For Group B: Screw-retained zirconium frameworks were constructed using the CAD/CAM technology and finally For Group C: Screw-retained frameworks were constructed using the Selective Laser sintering SLS technology TILOP 45 (TILOP = Titanium Low Oxygen Powder). Final frameworks of each group were screwed over each model and then using stereomicroscope, a gap analysis was performed.
Results: When comparing the mean gap values of the three groups, the study has shown that there was a statistically significant difference in the mean gap values between both the Zirconia and TILOP45 frameworks and the conventional cast frameworks (p<0.001). The highest mean gap Value was found in conventional cast frameworks while the least mean gap value was found in the Zirconia frameworks. Results also revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in the mean gap values between the Zirconia Frameworks and the TILOP45 Selective Laser Sintering Frameworks.
Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that selective laser sintering technology as well as the CAD/CAM Zirconia technology renders more passive frameworks than the conventional cast method. There seems to be a very close similarity between the accuracy of frameworks constructed with the selective laser sintering technology and the CAD/CAM Zirconia technology.