Digital Dentistry: How 3D Printing Plays a Part

Here are the top five advantages we see 3D printing bringing to the dentistry industry, and how it is helping transform digital dentistry:

1 – There’s a great range of medically approved dental materials

At Tri-Tech 3D we offer a diverse range of Stratasys materials which have been created especially for dental applications. We have materials that are different densities, different flexibilities and different opacities which come in a range of colours. The unique and diverse characteristics of these dental materials can significantly improve the model and surgical guide making process.

Here’s some more details on our Stratasys dental materials:

• VeroDent (MED670) A natural Peach tone material offering high-quality detail, strength and durability. VeroDent is a Polyjet material and is capable of being printed with ultra-thin 16-micron layer accuracy.
• VeroDent Plus (MED690) A dark beige material that creates fine features and a superb quality finish, and offers excellent strength, accuracy and durability.
• VeroGlaze (MED620) An opaque material with A2 shading designed to provide the best colour match in the industry. Ideal for veneer try-ins and diagnostic wax ups, VeroGlaze is medically approved for temporary in-mouth placement for up to 24 hours.

2 – Improved Internal Workflow

Create a powerful digital workflow and save time for what really matters. 3D printing allows dentists to take an intra-oral scan of the patent and immediately send a digital copy of the digital scan to the dental lab. The lab technician can then begin working with the scan within minutes. There’s no mess from any plaster or unsafe grinding dust to inhale, just a digital copy of the scan on the computer!

Not only is this method more pleasant for the patient than having to bite down on a mould, it’s also far more accurate and eliminates potential mistakes and inaccuracies which can be made with conventional impressions.

What’s more, 3D printing is the most economically efficient option for printing multiple moulds and can print multiple moulds and guides out in the same time it takes to create just one! The finish of the product from our 3D print is of much higher quality than standard methods as it provides much more accuracy, detail, versatility and durability than other processes.

Mark Patterson, technical director of UK Dentech has quoted:

“Since we took the decision to invest in our Connex 260 from Tri-Tech 3D, we have achieved the efficiencies we were looking for and can now print up to 100 models a day, giving us a lead over some of the other laboratories in the United Kingdom”

See our full case study with UK Dentech here.

3 – There’s a Diverse Range of Applications

With our 3D print technology dental range, there are a range of processes you can upgrade and streamline. Create crown and bridge models, orthodontic models and surgical guides with ease and all in one smooth process in a clean and safe working environment.

3D printing allows you to create a more personalised care plan for your clients by easily creating custom models that have the ability to mimic gum texture and colour. With our 3D print technology, you could tap into a multi-million-pound international growth market by making dental care less traumatic, costly and time consuming for your patients as well as being more economic and profitable for your company.

4 – Ever Evolving Technologies

Here at Tri-Tech 3D, we offer a range of 3D printers which have been specifically designed for the dentistry industry to streamline and enhance dentistry processes without any sacrifice on quality. The dental series are capable of building surgical guides, veneer models, orthodontic appliances, delivery and positioning trays, and models in-house. They are able to print in a range of appropriate colours including clear and can simulate the texture of real tissue properties.

Our Dental range includes:

• Objet 30 Orthodesk
• Objet30 Dental Prime
• Objet Eden 260VS Dental Advantage
• Objet 260 Dental Selection

5 – A Smarter Business Economy

3D printing can significantly reduce the cost for dental laboratories. With our 3D technology, it costs less for the laboratory to make a 3D printed model using an intra-oral scan and CAD/CAM processes than it does to make it conventionally, using a physical impression and pouring up a stone mould.

Technicians also spend significantly less time working on a restoration model, meaning they can physically take on a larger workload with less man power required.

So there you have the top five advantages of using 3D print technology in the dentistry industry! If you would like any more information or advice on our 3D technology, please don’t hesitate to contact our dedicated team.