Effect of Storage Conditions and Time on the Dimensional Stability of 3D Printed Surgical Guides: An In Vitro Study

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the dimensional stability over time of additively manufactured surgical templates, fabricated by different resins, and stored by different methods. Materials and Methods Using a 3D printer with DLS technology and two different resins (Surgical Guide (SG)‐WhipMix and Key Guide (KG)‐KeystoneIndustries), 96 surgical guides were additively manufactured. The guides were stored in three different environments: directly exposed to sunlight (S1), in normal interior room conditions (S2), and in darkness (S3). The guides were digitally scanned immediately after fabrication and post‐processing, and after 1, 3, and 6 months of storage. For each group, the mean deviation of the root mean square (RMS) between guide's intaglio surface, as well as the axial deviation between sleeves' housings were calculated. Results The mean axial variations of angular axis deviation of sleeves' housings ranged between 0.09° and 3.99°. The mean deviation of the RMS discrepancy in guide's intaglio ranged from 0.1 to 0.18 mm. Variations were significant (p