Can 3D-Printed crowns match milled ones for tough molar repairs?
NCT ID NCT06850649
First seen Aug 10, 2026 · Last updated Aug 11, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether 3D-printed endocrowns—a type of dental crown that replaces the top of a tooth—are as durable and good-looking as milled ones for molars with severe tooth loss. About 33 adults with healthy gums and at least two remaining tooth walls will receive either a 3D-printed or milled crown. Over two years, dentists will check for color changes, fit, wear, sensitivity, and decay to see which method holds up better.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Endocrowns made from different materials (IPS Empress CAD, Vita Enamic, VarseoSmile Crown Plus) using 3D-printing or milling
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward more durable and cost-effective dental restorations for severely damaged molars.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial, and results may not apply to all patients. Endocrowns may fail over time, leading to fractures or the need for replacement.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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33 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2023
- Finished
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May 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 90 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Must be a lower or upper molar tooth * Must be periodontal healthy * There must be at least two axial walls in the relevant tooth * Gingival steps should be at gum level * There must be neighboring teeth mesial and distal to the relevant tooth. * The place where it occludes must be the opposing tooth and the tooth must be a natural or filled tooth without a prosthesis. * No systemic acut or chronic conditions (Thyroid disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Insulin dependent diabetes, etc.) Exclusion Criteria: * Inadequate oral hygiene, bleeding on probing, pocket deeper than 3 mm mobility presence * Sensitivity to percussion after root canal treatment * Insufficient enamel tissue remaining in the relevant tooth * Presence of radiographically abnormal periodontal space * Teeth with inadequate bone support * Teeth with root resorption and fracture
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Ege University
Izmir, 35100, Turkey (Türkiye)