3D Printing vs. Conventional Dentures: How Surface Texture Shapes Candida Growth
Why Denture Materials Matter for Oral Health
Denture-related infections—especially those involving Candida albicans, the most common fungal pathogen in the mouth—remain a major concern for millions of denture users worldwide. These infections often begin quietly on the inner surface of dentures, where the fungus attaches, forms biofilms, and becomes increasingly difficult to remove.
As digital dentistry grows, 3D-printed dentures are becoming more popular due to their convenience and precision. But how do these newer materials compare to traditional ones in terms of resisting fungal growth?
A new study published in BMC Oral Health (2025) set out to answer exactly that.
What the Researchers Did
The research team compared four common denture fabrication methods:
Autopolymerized resin (traditional)
Heat-activated resin (traditional)
Milled resin (CAD/CAM subtractive manufacturing)
3D-printed resin (additive manufacturing)
They examined two key factors:
Surface roughness – how smooth or irregular the material is
Candida albicans adhesion – how much fungus sticks to the surface
Because surface texture is strongly influenced by 3D-printing settings, the researchers also tested three printing orientations:
0°, 45°, and 90°, to see how layer direction affects fungal attachment.
Across all samples, they measured:
Surface topography (via laser confocal scanning)
Water contact angle (hydrophilicity)
Biofilm formation (using SEM imaging and staining assays)
Fungal cell-wall thickness
Key Findings: Smooth Surfaces Win
1. Milled Resins Are the Smoothest—and Most Resistant
Among all materials tested:
Milled resins had the lowest surface roughness
They also showed the least fungal adhesion
This means smoother milled surfaces create fewer “hiding places” for microbes to latch onto.
2. 3D-Printed Resins Had the Roughest Surfaces
3D-printed samples displayed:
Highly irregular micro-grooves
The highest fungal attachment levels
This suggests that while 3D printing is convenient, its surface texture may promote unwanted microbial colonization.
Printing Orientation Makes a Huge Difference
Not all 3D-printed dentures are created equally.
0° Orientation = Smoothest & Most Resistant
The 0-degree printing angle produced:
The smoothest microtexture
The lowest biofilm formation among 3D-printed samples
45° and 90° = Higher Microroughness and Higher Adhesion
Both angles showed:
Deeper grooves and speckled textures
Similar Candida adhesion levels
Higher microroughness (Rdq value), which correlated strongly with biofilm growth
One interesting insight:
A commonly used roughness metric (Ra) alone didn’t accurately predict how much fungus would attach.
Another parameter called Rdq, which reflects the steepness of tiny surface slopes, was much better at indicating microbial adhesion risk.
So What Does This Mean for Denture Users?
For Clinicians
Milled dentures are the most favorable option for minimizing fungal buildup.
If using 3D printing, print at 0° orientation whenever possible.
Traditional resins fall in the middle—better than 3D printing, but not as smooth as milling.
For Patients
Even with smoother materials:
Biofilm formation is impossible to completely avoid.
Regular and effective denture cleaning is essential, especially for elderly users who may struggle with mechanical brushing.
New cleaning technologies—including nanozyme-based cleansers—may offer better biofilm removal in the future.
Conclusion
This study shows that how dentures are made directly affects how much fungus can attach to them. Milled dentures and 0-degree printed dentures provide smoother surfaces that reduce initial microbial adhesion, offering potential benefits for long-term oral health.
As 3D printing continues to advance, understanding surface roughness—and how to control it—will be crucial in preventing denture-related infections like denture stomatitis.
Reference
Ryu HS, Lee E-H, Kwon H-B, Lim Y-J, Lee S-W, Kim M-J. The effects of fabrication methods and build orientation on Candida albicans adhesion on 3D-printed and conventional denture resin: an in vitro comparative study. BMC Oral Health. 2025;25:1788.