At this stage, 3D printers are accepted by more research scholars 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 internal biological tissues such as human cells and bones. In this article, we will focus on the application and development prospects of 3D printers in the dental field.

Now, professionals in the dental industry can work on their own oral scanning and CAD 3D model design. Then, they can use desktop-level 3D printers or 3D printing services to make 3D printed models. The development prospects of the dental industry are very broad. Some 3D printer manufacturers have even developed new equipment such as 3D printers and 3D scanners specially used for dental work. These 3D printing equipment are widely used in 3D printing dental molds, orthodontic appliances or 3D printing implants and dental crowns.

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

3D printing is the perfect solution for producing customized products in all industries. As far as the medical field is concerned, it can individually meet the needs of different patients, such as 3D printed prostheses and teeth. Usually, the prosthesis or implant must exactly match the shape of the patient. This is especially true for the dental industry, because everyone has their own unique tooth shape. With a 3D printer, medical staff can accurately obtain the 3D printed model of the patient's gum and provide customized solutions for it.

Dental 3D printing is the key to modern dental plastic technology innovation, because it is very helpful for dental innovation experiments. Due to various reasons, the application of digital dentistry in the industry is developing very rapidly, and it is a cost-saving and time-saving method.

How does 3D printing technology help dental professionals?

There are many benefits of using a 3D printer. This method can help any medical professional to produce a suitable medical model.

3D printed calibrator made by students

The aligner is a kind of appliance that corrects the alignment of the teeth. Amos Dudley, a college student at Jersey Institute of Technology, used a 3D printer to create his own orthodontic appliance. The reason was that he could not afford the cost of traditional braces, so he made his own customized version with a 3D printer, but this student made a DIY version.

Amos Dudley’s orthodontic appliances cost only $60, which is an important advantage because traditional dental equipment is usually very expensive. He used his own tooth model and a 3D printer to make a set of brackets.

3D printed dental implants

3D printers also play an important role in dental implant surgery. In fact, 3D printed models can be created to replace missing teeth. Compared with traditional methods, 3D printing allows faster access to replacement teeth and is more accurate. It is also a simpler and economical method. 3D printing and dental restoration will have a bright future together.

In China, Dr. Zhao Yimin manages an autonomous 3D dental implant interventional treatment. This dental rehabilitation professional has created a robotic dentist who can independently lead implant surgery. This impressive operation took an hour and was ultimately successful.

3D printed dentures

3D printed dentures, whether they are full dentures, gums and teeth, must be printed with biocompatible materials. Even the denture base is 3D printable and can be adapted to the 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 crown

The 3D printer allows the crown to be produced very quickly, as the process can be done by the dentist himself. It is one of the most common applications of 3D printing in dentistry. By scanning the patient's teeth, 3D printing modeling is performed and the crown is printed directly. This process is very time-saving. If there is an error, the professional can modify the model file and reprint the new crown.