In simplest terms, 3D printing or additive manufacturing means adding material to material to make something. In more technical terms, it means constructing a 3-dimensional object using computer-aided design models (CAD), a device that could make our lives much easier. 3D printing has particularly become popular in the medical field over the recent years. An example of a field that has enjoyed the conveniences of using this technology is dentistry. Implementing this technology can provide patients with a pleasant experience. Its vast applications make many services cheaper and faster while making dentists’ jobs easier. Maybe it is time more oral health professionals considered the use of 3D printing.
Labs vs. 3D Printing: Cheaper, Faster, More Accurate
Dentists rely on lab technicians to fabricate products ranging from crowns, bridges, dentures, etc. Lab technicians have to design these products with painstaking attention and deliver them to dentists, making their role essential in the quality of dentistry work and the ultimate satisfaction of patients.
Dentists usually choose laboratories that offer high-quality work at moderate prices. Furthermore, most dentists need to be able to communicate with labs and have an excellent professional relationship with them. Dentists need to maintain a good relationship with technicians, meaning that they need to be able to comfortably voice their concerns over the final products, requesting on-time delivery, and resolving any other issues that may exist.
Although labs are instrumental to a thriving dentistry business, sometimes technicians are hard to work with or might fail to deliver high-quality results on time. These problems directly affect the quality of dentists’ work. Therefore, they might have to switch over to other labs. Changing labs is a huge inconvenience, so some dentists decide to continue their cooperation despite dissatisfaction.
Perhaps 3D printing is here to smooth over at least some of these issues. This technology limits dentists’ reliance on laboratories. Instead, a 3D printer can be operated in-house to reduce costs both for doctors and patients, resulting in a much more pleasant patient experience. Moreover, it leaves little room for human error, providing a much more accurate result in half the time.
Applications
3D Printing in Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a specialization in dentistry, dealing with the correct positioning of the teeth. This branch has enjoyed the benefits of 3D print technology, particularly in making Invisalign. A patient might need Invisalign instead of braces or after they have removed their braces, in which case they will probably need thicker retainers that they should wear during the night to maintain the position of their teeth.
The process of making Invisalign using 3D printers involves:
An orthodontist diagnosing the patient and examining the x-rays of their mouth to determine whether or not they need a retainer in the first place.
Scanning the patient’s mouth using a digital wand
3D rendering of the current position of the teeth and producing a computer model of the final position of the teeth
Printing the appropriate Invisalign using a 3D printer
Dentures
The advances in technology have come to rescue people who have lost all of their teeth. Of course, there are many options for those who need to replace their teeth, including implants and dentures. However, how often have you had a tooth implant and ended up with constant pain in your jaw, neck, or head? When the new teeth do not fit the mouth perfectly or need too many adjustments, the process can cause the displacement of the patient’s jaw and turn into a rather painful experience.
3D printers can produce extremely precise dentures in a considerably short period of time while also cutting down on expenses. They offer realistic-looking and comfortable products that are more desirable for patients.
The process of making dentures with 3D printers entails:
Taking the impression of the patient’s mouth using a gooey substance. Once dried, it will turn into a mold.
Using the mold to create an identical model of the patient’s upper and lower jaw. A wax model of the patient’s teeth ensures the jaws are positioned correctly.
Scanning the model and the wax block with top-of-the-line scanners, ensuring that the final product is accurate and comfortable.
Designing the digital model of the dentures using specialized software. The designer will have to make sure that the produced teeth will fit in perfectly with each other.
Fabricating the dentures using high-tech carbon 3D printers. The dentures are made of programmable resin, and their shade and color can be selected.
The printer uses an ultraviolet projector to cure the resin precisely as desired.
The base and teeth are printed separately, cleaned, and then attached using resin and controlled ultraviolet exposure.
Initiating the curing process.
Submerging the dentures in a hot glycerol bath. Since oxygen hinders the curing process, glycerol is used to prevent it from reaching the surface of the dentures.
Ensuring the acrylic resin is fully polymerized and safe to use.
Polishing the dentures to remove any possible roughness and make the product shiny and comfortable to wear.
A technician will use composites and stains to incorporate natural features in the final stage. (This is called the characterization process.)
Surgical Guides
When it comes to unfortunate experiences during tooth implants, surgical guides are the latest development to help correctly and accurately place an implant inside the patient’s mouth. The process is quite similar to making dentures:
At first, the dentist will need a model of the arch of the patient’s teeth and an intraoral scan.
These scans and the model are then imported into the planning software and aligned together.
Dentists will need to adjust technical details at this point and design the surgical guide in the CAD software.
Next, the desired implant material will be chosen to design the treatment.
At this stage, the design is printed and cleaned out.
What Else?
The processes outlined above can be used in several scenarios. Dentists can make castings, bridges, caps, crowns, etc., simply with a set of 3D printers. Furthermore, they can digitally design products to repair broken or otherwise damaged teeth. 3D printing has numerous applications in dentistry, making it a ground-breaking and beneficial technological innovation.
Statistics show that 3D printing is becoming more and more popular among dental health professionals. An increasing number of dentists want their offices equipped with this state-of-the-art technology to become independent and cut down on their expenses.
Additionally, with in-house 3D printers, patients no longer have to wait for days or weeks to get their results. They will enjoy faster, more accurate dental services, but they will not have to fear more expensive bills. The exclusion of manual model-making and laboratories means patients can actually save more money.
As more people are willing to create an end-to-end business with as little out-sourcing as possible, the time is right to consider 3D printers. This technology is widely available, offers numerous applications, and helps reduce expenses past the purchase of the machinery.