3D Printing in Dentistry
Revolutionising the Dental Industry
With intraoral scanning now the norm, and the popularity of aligner therapies, 3D printing Dentistry is here to stay. For both the Dental Practice and Laboratory, a 3D printer is an essential tool in enabling a full digital workflow.
There are many uses for 3D printing within the dental industry including, crown and bridge models, aligner models, diagnostic wax ups, printing surgical guides, splints and many more.
With the replacement of impressions, stone models and transit time, 3d printing allows efficient and accurate data transfer with excellent patient comfort and outcomes.
Orthodontic models were formerly created by pouring actual stone into moulds. This implies that the quality of the finished dental models would be solely dependent on the technician’s abilities. Using the traditional technique, making high-quality dental models is difficult and costly, since there’s a greater chance of mistakes.
Dental practices are already utilizing 3D printing technologies to create models of teeth. Dental models are built layer-by-layer during the process, which is completed using a computer software program. With 3D printers, even tiny structures may now be recreated as dental prototypes since they are created one layer at a time.
Simply scan the dental impression, design the model with any dentistry needs or specifications, and it’s ready to be 3D printed. There is no need to wait around for your models to dry when you can 3d print them for a fraction of the price. A dental 3D model is a more stable, durable, and precise alternative to a plaster model. Digital technology makes things easier, resulting in fewer errors and less labour, both of which will save time and money.
With a continual progression of new materials, a 3d printer is fast becoming one of the most critical tools of a modern practice or laboratory. The range of biocompatible materials is ever-expanding, and the possibility of outcomes like digitally printed dentures printed temporary crowns are both possible and rapidly improving in both longevity and aesthetics.
Rapidly declining printer and material costs and vastly increased ease of use are ensuring that the adaptation of this exciting technology will be both easy and cost-effective.
