3D printing in dentistry has been a fantastic innovation in assisting the industry in developing better solutions to problems in their field. It gives practitioners easier access to printing jobs, whether on-site or off-site.
3D printers produce never-before-seen products such as thermostat dental aligners and 3D dentures. This upgrade makes life easier for dental professionals and directly impacts patients. This dental solution is now more effective and affordable.
The innovation is a fantastic solution. So, this article will delve into what other advantages 3D printing provides to dentistry.
Aligners For the Teeth
Patient-specific dental aligners are one of the essential 3D printed products. Invisalign and other dental solutions use resin 3D printers to create accurate models of a patient's teeth, which they use to establish clear aligners.
You cannot do it quickly for a manual trend. However, when 3D printing enters the picture, it may only take a day or two.
This 3D printed model is one step above the customary one. It contains a copy of the patient's teeth with all the suggested adjustments, and they place it in a dental thermoforming machine.
Afterward, they will put it in a clear aligner tightly encased around the printed model, the patient-specific final product.
Dentures
One of the beautiful things that 3D printers can do in dentistry is efficiently produce complete dentures.
You can now enjoy complete dentures made of plastic resin with the help of the 3d dental lab, especially if you have no teeth left.
Denture printing comes in two stages. First is the base, which touches the patient's gums. Next are the teeth, which need to be rigid and robust.
However, because you will install 3D dentures in the customer's mouth, you must thoroughly polish them to avoid getting caught on the item's sharp edges.
Casting Patterns
Patterns for casting are another valuable product of 3D printing. You can use these patterns to make crowns, bridges, and copings.
Making these by hand by a dental technician seems to take time. However, the introduction of 3D printing made the process more smooth, efficient, and effective.
Products for investment in the casting process are available here. The 3D printed pattern is burned away during the burnout stage of the process, leaving a cavity that you can fill with casting material.
Dental Models
When creating an entire arch for dental models, the 3d dental lab printer can also help. This technique lets dentists plan how to restore and configure their patients' teeth.
Another advantage is that it can automatically generate a model after the dentist scans the patient's mouth. Then comes the decision on how to provide an excellent dental procedure.
Surgical Guide
Performing surgeries in any situation are difficult and dangerous; fortunately, 3D printing makes it easier for dentists to perform operations on patients.
3D printing allows any digital file conversion into a 3D version that you can thoroughly examine before administering it to the patients. They will avoid difficulties and mishaps during the process this way.
The surgical guides are essential if the dentist will be implanting implants in the patients. This procedure can ensure that they correctly place the item inside the mouth and that the operation runs smoothly.
Most surgical guides use 3D scan data and configure it into a suitable CAD design. The digital guide design is printed, polished, and finished before being used orally.
The Bottom Line
3D printing is now a popular trend and one of the most innovative developments in dentistry. This modern technology allows professionals to improve their skills and provide better patient service.