There is nothing that can stop 3D printing technology from taking over our lives.
It has been disrupting the status quo for multiple industries to create tools and parts with greater efficiency and lower production costs, among many other benefits. One such industry is dentistry where 3D printing has helped and even innovated the production of tools, prostheses, and dental implants. Here are the orthodontic products that can be made using 3D printing technology.
3D printed dental applications
Orthodontic models
Gone are the days when patients have to bite into a chunk of clay so that dentists could create a mold for their dentures. Thanks to 3D printing, it is now possible to scan the teeth electronically, design the orthodontic model, and print it in the same place. This process is also faster.
Surgical tools
3D printing can also create the dental surgical tools required during drilling. These drill guides help the dentists in executing the surgery accurately during certain dental procedures.
Dental implants
3D printing can create various dental implants, such as crowns, bridges, caps, dentures and more. It is a lot faster, more efficient, and cheaper to create these with a 3D printer, bringing the costs down for both dentists and patients.
Damaged tooth repair
Even repairs on damaged teeth can be handled by 3D printers. The dentist first scans the damaged tooth with a small digital wand. It then takes a 3D image which can then be uploaded into a Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. This allows the dentist to design the repair part and print it out on the 3D printer.
Benefits of 3D printing to dentists and orthodontists
Dentists and patients both save money
Traditionally, orthodontics products need to be created in a dental laboratory, which is costly to build. In order to operate an in-house dental laboratory, you would also need to hire skilled staff. Meanwhile, 3D printing only costs a fraction of traditional dental laboratory expenses and would not need as many people to operate.
Since 3D printing would be less costly to operate, it would also make sense that patients will pay less for the lab services. 3D printed dental implants are estimated to be lower by 80% than traditionally made ones.
Faster and more accurate dental and orthodontic services
Creating dental and orthodontic products by hand can be time-consuming and more prone to human errors. Creating them through 3D printing is more accurate since it can print out multiple dental appliances simultaneously. Accuracy is also greatly improved since you can take an accurate and detailed scan of the patient’s teeth and design the orthodontics according to the specifications on the scan.
It’s time for 3D printing to transform your dental practice
If you want to lessen your operating costs while increasing efficiency and accuracy of your services, switch on over to 3D printing. Try it out first by outsourcing your 3D printed projects to us! Upload your 3D file to avail of 3D printing services. For more info, you can also email us at x3d@x3d.com.au.