ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the clinical performance of 3D‐printed resin composite three‐unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) in posterior regions in patients with and without bruxism over approximately 28 months. Methods Forty patients requiring replacement of a single missing posterior tooth were enrolled in this prospective clinical study conducted between April 2022 and January 2025 at the University of Siena, Siena, Italy. Patients were allocated to either a bruxism group ( n = 20) or a non‐bruxism group ( n = 20), based on clinical signs and patient self‐report using the STAB questionnaire. All abutments were prepared according to standardized guidelines and digitally scanned; FDPs were designed with CAD software and fabricated via DLP 3D‐printing using a biocompatible resin composite. Prostheses were cemented with a self‐adhesive resin cement. Clinical performance was assessed at baseline and scheduled recalls using modified USPHS criteria. Statistical analysis included t ‐tests or Mann–Whitney U tests for continuous data and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables ( α = 0.05). Results After a mean follow‐up of 28 months, most restorations in both groups were rated Alpha. One clinically unacceptable fracture occurred in the bruxism group, while no failures were recorded in the non‐bruxism group. Restoration wear was significantly more frequent among bruxists (40%) compared with non‐bruxists (10%) ( p = 0.02). No significant between‐group differences were observed for other USPHS parameters, and no biological complications occurred. Conclusions 3D‐printed resin composite FDPs showed favorable short‐term clinical performance in both bruxist and non‐bruxist patients, though bruxism was associated with increased wear. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01935796
Cagidiaco et al. (2026) studied this question.