Journal of Prosthodontics News
October 29, 2026
Clinical Evaluation of Porcelain-Veneered Zirconia Crowns With 3D-Printed Textured Cores: A Preliminary Randomized Clinical Trial
Now online in the Journal of Prosthodontics, a clinical evaluation of porcelain-veneered zirconia crowns with 3D-printed textured cores, co-authored by ACP Fellow Dr. Wei-Shao Lin.
This preliminarily randomized clinical trial investigated the influence of 3D-printed textures of zirconia cores on the clinical performance of porcelain-veneered zirconia crowns (PVZCs), particularly the influence on esthetic properties.
Sixteen participants requiring PVZCs for anterior tooth defects to mask severely discolored abutment teeth or metal post-and-core restorations were randomly allocated to two groups (eight participants per group). All zirconia cores were 3D-printed using advanced customized jetting technology and veneered with feldspathic porcelain.
Cores in the experimental group were fabricated with 200 µm high textures on the veneering surface, whereas cores in the control group were fabricated smooth. Clinical evaluations were performed at baseline and at the 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups and included assessment of color match, translucency, chipping/fracture, and participant satisfaction.
No statistically significant differences in color change (ΔE00) were found between the groups in any evaluated region, and no significant effects of group, time, or their interaction were found for color match, translucency, or participant satisfaction (p > 0.05). No chipping or fracture occurred in either group, and participant satisfaction remained high in both groups.
Over a 6-month clinical evaluation, PVZCs with 3D-printed textured cores showed esthetic and clinical performance comparable with that of air-abraded nontextured cores. These findings are preliminary and require confirmation in studies with larger samples and longer follow-up.
Wang M, Liu J, Xu B, Lin W-S, Tan J, Chen L. Clinical evaluation of porcelain-veneered zirconia crowns with 3D-printed textured cores: A preliminary randomized clinical trial. J Prosthodont. 2026; https://doi.org/10.1111/jopr.70260
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