At this stage, 3D printers are accepted by more researchers and doctors in the medical industry. 3D printers can not only be used to create practical models such as tools, prostheses, dental implants, etc., it can even be used to 3D bioprint the human body's cells, bones and other internal biological tissues.

Now, professionals in the dental industry can do their own oral scanning and CAD 3D model design work. They can then 3D print the model using a desktop 3D printer or a 3D printing service. The development prospects of the dental industry are very broad, and some 3D printer manufacturers have even developed new equipment such as 3D printers and 3D scanners specially used for dental work. These 3D printing devices are widely used in 3D printing dental molds, orthodontic appliances or 3D printing implants and crowns.

3D printing and mass customization: a revolution in the dental industry

3D printing is the perfect solution for the production of customized products in all industries. As far as the medical field is concerned, it can be personalized to meet the needs of different patients, such as 3D printed prostheses, teeth, etc. Often, prostheses or implants must be perfectly matched to the patient's morphology. This is especially true for the dental industry, as everyone has their own unique tooth shape. With the 3D printer, medical staff can accurately obtain the 3D printed model of the patient's gums and provide them with customized solutions.

Dental 3D printing is the key to the innovation of modern dental plastic technology, because it is very helpful for dental innovation experiments. The adoption of digital dentistry in the industry is growing very rapidly for a variety of reasons, and it is a cost- and time-saving method. For example, if your 3D printed teeth don't fit, you can simply modify the 3D modeling design drawings.

How can 3D printing technology help dental professionals?

The benefits of using a 3D printer are numerous, and this method can help any medical professional produce medical models that fit.

3D printed stand with LED lights

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia are developing "smart 3D printed scaffolds". These braces are designed to align and straighten teeth faster with LED lights. These translucent 3D-printed brackets place a battery at each tooth location to power LED lights, which help to see how the teeth move during the bite. The team's researchers are now working on non-toxic lithium batteries, as well as continuously improving the ease of use of these stents, making them safe and comfortable to wear on patients. These 3D printed scaffolds are still in the commercial research stage, but it provides a good example of research in the field.

3D printed calibrator made by students

An aligner is a type of aligner that corrects the alignment of your teeth. Jersey Tech college student Amos Duhijop used a 3D printer to create his own braces. The reason was that he couldn't afford the cost of traditional braces, so he used a 3D printer to make his own custom, but the student made a DIY version.

Amos Duhijop's orthodontic braces cost only $60, an important advantage since traditional dental equipment is often very expensive. He built a set of braces himself using his own tooth models and a 3D printer.

3D printed dental implants

3D printers also play an important role in dental implant surgery. 3D printed models can actually be created to replace missing teeth. 3D printing allows obtaining replacement teeth faster and more accurately than traditional methods, it is also a simpler and more economical method. 3D printing and dental restoration will have a bright future together.

In China, Dr. Zhao Yimin manages an autonomous 3D dental implant intervention. This oral rehabilitation professional has created a robotic dentist capable of independently leading implant procedures. This impressive operation took an hour and was ultimately successful.

3D printed dentures

3D printed dentures, whether complete dentures, gums and teeth, must be printed with biocompatible materials. Even denture bases are 3D printable and can fit into a patient's mouth. Currently, 3D printed dentures are only used for clinical testing, but we think it will soon become a common 3D printed product.

3D printed dental crown

3D printers allow crowns to be produced very quickly, as the process can be done by dentists themselves. It is one of the most common applications of 3D printing in dentistry. By scanning the patient's teeth, 3D printing the model and printing the crown directly. This process is very time-saving, and if something goes wrong, the professional can modify the model file and reprint a new crown.

Which 3D printing technology should you use?

This depends on the nature of the dental project and the model objects you plan to generate. General digital dentistry requires special 3D printing materials. When it comes to dental products, you must use biocompatible materials such as biocompatible resins from PioNext. For medical tools, other medical devices or prototypes, you can choose from various types of 3D printing materials.

We hope this article on dental 3D printing has inspired you. There are many more applications of 3D printing in the medical industry and as you can see this amazing manufacturing process is already working and the future of dental 3D printing is looking bright!