Purpose: To examine and compare the fracture strength of implant-cemented fixed partial denture (FPD) prostheses fabricated with digital vs conventional chairside methods.
Materials and methods: Three groups of seven specimens each were produced: group A (3D printing); group B (milling); and group C (conventional chairside manufacturing), which served as a control. All groups were cemented to standard implant abutments placed in artificial bone blocks. Fracture strength testing was performed using a universal testing machine. Statistical analysis of the resultant maximum forces was performed using SPSS version 25 software (Mann- Whitney U test, P < .05).
Results: The mean fracture load value of the group A FPDs was 260.14 N ± 28.88, for group B was 663.57 N ± 140.55, and for group C was 266.65 N ± 63.66.
Conclusions: Milled provisional FPDs showed a higher fracture resistance compared to 3D-printed and control groups. However, no such difference could be detected between the 3D-printed and control groups.