An investigation of the financial feasibility and technical differences among Shell Sintering Technology (SST), Subtractive, Casting Manufacturing, and Slurry Vat Photopolymerisation for the fabrication of ceramic dental crowns.

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the economical effects of manufacturing dental prostheses using five alternative techniques: one subtractive manufacturing known as CAD/CAM casting, vat photopolymerisation casting, two slurry vat photopolymerisation techniques, and shell sintering technology (SST). Deterministic bottom-up economic models were employed for this work, and the inputs used included the cost of the materials, equipment, and labour, as well as the time needed to finish each stage of the porcelain crown manufacture. The results from the CAD/CAM and Vat photopolymerisation casting procedures were classified in the average when total overhead costs were taken into account. With payback periods of 2.9 and 3.2 years and ROI values of about 35% and 31%, respectively, the financial returns are comparable and are, from an economic standpoint, quite acceptable. On the other hand, the Slurry 1 and 2 vat photopolymerisation techniques performed poorly to demonstrate a profit or payback, with negative ROIs of -40 and − 52, respectively, indicating that they are unsuitable for this type of application, though they are useful for other applications that traditional techniques cannot solve. In contrast, SST technology has the most affordable equipment, labour, and material expenses. This has a favourable effect on overall production costs, which are much lower when compared to available methods. All overhead median metrics, such as annual profit (US$ 770100.00), 0.5 years of payback, and an ROI of 187%, displayed especially tempting results, demonstrating that this technique has great performance, low operating costs, and outstanding financial returns. In conclusion, the SST technique has the potential to disrupt the dental prosthesis production sector because of its great economics.