Clinical Evaluation of 3D-Printed Versus Semi-Direct Composite Resin Restorations

June 30, 2026 updated by: Mohammed Abd El Ghany Mohammed, Tanta University
This randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the clinical performance of 3D-printed composite resin restorations compared with semi-direct composite resin restorations in posterior teeth requiring Class II inlay or onlay restorations.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Dental restorations are commonly used to restore teeth affected by caries or structural defects. Advances in digital dentistry have introduced three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies that enable the fabrication of indirect composite resin restorations with improved precision, efficiency, and reproducibility. Semi-direct composite resin restorations represent another conservative restorative approach that combines the advantages of direct and indirect techniques while reducing polymerization shrinkage and improving anatomical form.

Although both techniques are increasingly used in clinical practice, evidence regarding their long-term clinical performance remains limited. Therefore, this randomized controlled clinical trial aims to compare the clinical performance of 3D-printed composite resin restorations and semi-direct composite resin restorations in posterior teeth requiring Class II inlay or onlay restorations.

Sixty patients aged 25 to 40 years who require two Class II inlay or onlay restorations will be enrolled by invitation from patients attending the Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups according to the restorative material and fabrication technique used. Group I will receive 3D-printed composite resin restorations, while Group II will receive semi-direct composite resin restorations.

All cavity preparations and restorative procedures will be performed according to standardized clinical protocols and manufacturers' instructions. Clinical evaluations will be conducted at baseline, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months after restoration placement using the modified FDI World Dental Federation criteria.

The primary objective is to evaluate the overall clinical performance and survival of the restorations over a 12-month follow-up period. Secondary outcomes include assessment of retention, marginal integrity, surface roughness, anatomical form, postoperative sensitivity, and the occurrence of secondary caries.

The findings of this study will contribute to the evidence regarding the effectiveness and clinical reliability of 3D-printed composite resin restorations compared with semi-direct composite resin restorations and may support clinical decision-making in restorative dentistry.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
    • Tanta
      • Tanta, Tanta, Egypt, 31527
        • Restorative Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients aged 25-40 years.
  • Patients requiring two Class II inlay or onlay restorations.
  • Teeth with carious lesions or defective restorations requiring indirect restorative treatment.
  • Teeth with sufficient structure to receive an inlay/onlay restoration.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with systemic diseases or medical conditions that may affect oral health or healing.
  • Pregnant or lactating patients.
  • Patients with poor oral hygiene or uncontrolled periodontal disease.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 3D-Printed Composite Resin Restorations
Participants will receive Class II inlay or onlay restorations fabricated using 3D-printed composite resin. Restorations will be placed following standardized cavity preparation and manufacturer instructions. Clinical performance will be evaluated at baseline, 6, 9, and 12 months using modified FDI criteria
Other: 3D-Printed Composite Resin Restorations
Fabrication and placement of Class II inlay or onlay restorations using 3D-printed composite resin material.
Experimental: Semi-Direct Composite Resin Restorations
Participants will receive Class II inlay or onlay restorations fabricated using the semi-direct composite resin technique. Restorations will be placed following standardized cavity preparation and manufacturer instructions. Clinical performance will be evaluated at baseline, 6, 9, and 12 months using modified FDI criteria
Other: Semi-Direct Composite Resin Restorations
Fabrication and placement of Class II inlay or onlay restorations using the semi-direct composite resin technique

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fracture of restorations
Time Frame: 12 months
Clinical evaluation of restoration fracture or bulk failure after placement of 3D-printed composite resin and semi-direct composite resin restorations. at baseline, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months after restoration placement. using a modified FDI criteria score. All restorations will be evaluated and categorized based on their clinical performance according to the assigned criteria: score 1 indicates a clinically excellent restoration, scores 2 and 3 represent clinically acceptable restorations, while scores 4 and 5 are considered clinically unacceptable. Clinical success will be defined as restorations receiving scores of 1, 2, or 3, whereas scores of 4 or 5 will be considered clinical failures.
12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Tanta University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 5, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 28, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 3, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 24, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 24, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 30, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 3D-Printed Composite

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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