Background/Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the mechanical and surface properties of three-dimensional (3D) printed and conventionally polymerized acrylic resins. Methods: A comprehensive search of four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science) was conducted to identify in vitro studies evaluating impact strength, elastic modulus, surface hardness, and surface roughness. Study quality was assessed using design-specific evaluation tools. When sufficient homogeneous data were available, a meta-analysis was performed. Results: The initial search yielded 942 potentially relevant records. Fifteen studies met the criteria for qualitative synthesis, and 13 were included in the meta-analysis. All studies were in vitro and were rated as having moderate to high methodological quality. Conclusions: Although conventional acrylic resins currently demonstrate superior mechanical strength, 3D-printed materials exhibit comparable surface properties and continue to evolve rapidly. Additive manufacturing technologies show promise as a viable and effective alternative for future prosthodontic applications.
Szymlet et al. (Sun,) studied this question.