Printing parameters for digital light processing three-dimensional printing in dentistry: A practice-oriented narrative review

Digital light processing (DLP) is a widely adopted three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in dentistry that utilizes digital micromirror devices for photopolymerization. The quality of DLP-printed dental products depends on printing parameters. This review synthesizes how printing orientation, support design, layer thickness, exposure time, post-processing, and their interactions influence key quality attributes, including dimensional accuracy, mechanical properties, and efficiency, with the aim of proposing practice-oriented fabrication guidance for dental products. Among the evaluated parameters, printing orientation is particularly critical because its optimal selection depends on the geometry and clinical requirements of the specific clinical product. Printing orientation directly influences printing quality through critical surface orientation, model height, and interlayer cohesion area, and indirectly affects printing quality through other printing parameters. Current research is constrained by reliance on standard specimens and oversight of parameter interactions, necessitating the development of clinical scenario-specific printing workflows and material-oriented guidelines.