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Volume 17
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10.3390/jfb17050255
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Dimensional Stability of Polymer and Titanium Implant Scan Bodies After Repeated Steam Sterilization: A High-Resolution 3D Metrological In Vitro Study

by
Igor Smojver
1,
Roko Bjelica
1,
Yuval Reiser
2,
Marko Vuletić
1,3,
Vladimir Prpić
4 and
Dragana Gabrić
1,3,*
1
School of Dental Medicine, Department of Oral Surgery, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
2
School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
3
Department of Dental Medicine, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
4
School of Dental Medicine, Department of Fixed Prosthodontics, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(5), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17050255
Submission received: 17 April 2026 / Revised: 12 May 2026 / Accepted: 18 May 2026 / Published: 20 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Design and Biomechanical Analysis of Dental Materials)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The increasing adoption of digital workflows in implant dentistry relies heavily on the accuracy of implant scan bodies (ISBs), which may be affected by repeated sterilization. This in vitro study evaluated the effect of 50 steam sterilization cycles on the dimensional stability of polymer and titanium ISBs. A total of 100 test specimens (n = 50 per material) were scanned before (T0) and after sterilization (T50) using a high-resolution intraoral scanner, generating 900 STL datasets for metrological analysis. Surface deviation, linear displacement, and angular deviation were assessed using validated industrial and dental software, with statistical evaluation performed through paired tests and linear mixed-effects models. Both materials exhibited statistically significant dimensional changes after sterilization (p < 0.001). Titanium scan bodies demonstrated greater linear deformation (69.76 μm) compared to polymer ones (49.50 μm), while maintaining superior angular stability (0.21° vs. −1.69° mean angular change in the polymer group). A significant interaction between material type and sterilization was observed. Despite high baseline precision, repeated autoclaving induced clinically relevant deviations in both materials. These findings indicate that cumulative sterilization cycles adversely affect ISB accuracy and highlight the importance of adhering to manufacturer recommendations to ensure optimal prosthetic outcomes.
Keywords: computer-aided design; dental abutments; dental implants; in vitro techniques; polymers; sterilization; titanium computer-aided design; dental abutments; dental implants; in vitro techniques; polymers; sterilization; titanium

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Smojver, I.; Bjelica, R.; Reiser, Y.; Vuletić, M.; Prpić, V.; Gabrić, D. Dimensional Stability of Polymer and Titanium Implant Scan Bodies After Repeated Steam Sterilization: A High-Resolution 3D Metrological In Vitro Study. J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17, 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17050255

AMA Style

Smojver I, Bjelica R, Reiser Y, Vuletić M, Prpić V, Gabrić D. Dimensional Stability of Polymer and Titanium Implant Scan Bodies After Repeated Steam Sterilization: A High-Resolution 3D Metrological In Vitro Study. Journal of Functional Biomaterials. 2026; 17(5):255. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17050255

Chicago/Turabian Style

Smojver, Igor, Roko Bjelica, Yuval Reiser, Marko Vuletić, Vladimir Prpić, and Dragana Gabrić. 2026. "Dimensional Stability of Polymer and Titanium Implant Scan Bodies After Repeated Steam Sterilization: A High-Resolution 3D Metrological In Vitro Study" Journal of Functional Biomaterials 17, no. 5: 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17050255

APA Style

Smojver, I., Bjelica, R., Reiser, Y., Vuletić, M., Prpić, V., & Gabrić, D. (2026). Dimensional Stability of Polymer and Titanium Implant Scan Bodies After Repeated Steam Sterilization: A High-Resolution 3D Metrological In Vitro Study. Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 17(5), 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17050255

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