Researchers target tuneable denture materials

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 6 May 2026

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AURORA, Colo., US: Multi-material 3D-printing of monolithic dentures in a single build has been a significant advance in digital denture fabrication. Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Dental Medicine are now seeking to expand on that development through inkjet-printable polymer systems that could allow more precise control of mechanical properties within removable prostheses as well as antimicrobial functionality.

Led by Prof. Jeffrey Stansbury, senior associate dean for research, the project centres on polymer systems that can control stiffness, elasticity and other properties. These materials are being developed alongside a custom inkjet-based 3D printer engineered specifically to process them. The ability to precisely control material properties creates the possibility of designing different regions of a removable denture to respond more appropriately to functional loading, having potential implications for patient comfort and denture durability and function.

Parallel research at the dental school is developing antimicrobial and antifungal materials that could be incorporated into 3D-printed dentures. According to the school, these materials have shown significant activity against Streptococcus species and Candida. Importantly, the same materials and printer platform is expected to support testing of these antimicrobial and antifungal denture materials, as well as future testing of advanced materials. Commenting on these possibilities in a university press release, Prof. Stansbury stated: “This pathway is likely going to improve the oral health of anybody wearing a full or partial denture made with this material.”

The team at the he University of Colorado Anschutz School of Dental Medicine. (Image: University of Colorado Anschutz)

To support clinical translation of these and future developments, the school has established a dedicated 3D printing hub that integrates materials development, clinical application and dental education. The school says that this is the first dental school facility to bring these capabilities together in one setting. This will allow students and staff to begin working with the technology in patient care. The first clinical trial is planned to compare dentures printed from the new materials with dentures produced with conventional methods in terms of patient satisfaction and functional outcomes.

A recent systematic review has shown that 3D-printed complete dentures exhibit broadly comparable clinical outcomes to conventional and milled dentures, although retention may be stronger with conventional dentures. If validated clinically, the new materials could support more sophisticated design of 3D-printed removable prostheses.