3D dental printers: revolutionising the dental industry

The rise of 3D printing in the dental sector

The dental industry has seen a significant uptake of 3D printing in recent years. Additive manufacturing is now widely mastered and used by professionals, many of whom are digitising their production processes.

Quality and precision thanks to professional 3D printing

Dental 3D printers meet the high demands of the dental sector. Their use varies between dental technicians and practitioners (dentists, orthodontists, etc.), depending on their needs. These two groups work together to create personalised dental devices such as crowns, bridges, splints, implants and retainers. 

Traditionally, this process involved multiple round trips and considerable delays.

Digital revolution: From intraoral 3D scanner to digital manufacturing

With 3D printing, the practitioner takes a 3D digital impression of the patient's teeth and gums using an intraoral scanner. The digital file is then sent to the dental technician, who designs the device using CAD software. The device is then manufactured using a 3D printer or digital milling machine and sent to the practitioner for installation. Some dentists are even integrating these devices into their practices, reducing the cost of dental treatment. 

For more information, see our article on 3D printing in dentistry.

Types of dental 3D printers

FDM 3D dental printers

FDM 3D printers use thermoplastic filaments. They are ideal for : 

• Creating dental models to check the viability of devices before treatment.

• Thermoforming retainers.

• Producing precise surgical guides to increase accuracy during implant procedures.

• Produce study models for training and communication.

• Machines-3D recommends the Tiertime UP300 and UP Mini 2 ES printers for these applications.

Resin 3D dental printers

Resin 3D printers, using processes such as SLA, LCD, DLP and LFS, are renowned for their precision. They can be used to : 

• Print castable models for investment casting, leading to the production of metal crowns, bridges and frameworks.

• Direct manufacture of biocompatible devices such as transparent orthodontic splints.

Machines-3D recommends the Sprintray, Photocentric and Shining 3D printers for these needs.

Advantages of 3D dental printing

3D printing makes it possible to create customised products with a quality equal to or better than traditional manufacturing while controlling costs. This technology offers an ideal solution for dentistry, where medical devices need to be perfectly adapted to each individual patient.