3D Printing the future: Main 4 Applications of 3D Printing in Dentistry

3D printing is being used in many fields nowadays. 3D printing applications are endless and particularly it is now advancing into medical and dental fields too. A dental implant is usual in the field of medicine and everything is made as per the patient mouth and should be custom-made for that person. There is no one size that fits all dentures or braces and patient often needs repetition of the process of the same mouthpiece they work their way through different treatment.
This makes 3D printing an ideal fit for dental industries, as it's possible to make unique surgical guides, crowns, and trays quickly and cheaply. There is no need of taking a physical impression and creating a plaster model. Instead, a 3D digital impression can be taken with a scanner, a camera that can create a 3D rendering of teeth into a digital file. With all this technology on hand, the device can be printed right then and there without the patient even having to leave their chair.

Myself Ravindra Gavde, NextGen 3D Guide, founder of the Facebook group "Mission 3D for Generation Next" and my mission in the coming 3 years is to prepare a career seeking 10000 students for future opportunities in 3D Printing.

Following are the applications of 3D printing technology in dentistry.

1. Repair or replace a damaged tooth

The dentists scan the patient's mouth with a small scanner. This creates a 3D image of teeth and gums which is saved in a computer in a 3D model. This helps the dentist to digitally to design the tooth repair and print the finished product on a 3D printer.

2. Create a 3D Model of Teeth and Gum for study and treat accordingly.

Normally the patient is told to bite down on uncomfortable clay to get an impression of their teeth and gums, which becomes their initial model for designing a treatment of braces or artificial tooth replacement. But now with 3D printing dentists can use the same Technology explained in the first example to scan the teeth, design, and print the end result in-house.

3. Manufacture dentures, bridges, caps, or crowns.

With the help of 3D printing, all kinds of dental implants can be 3D printed in-house. Here it will be printed more precisely and will fit properly.

4. Make surgical tools and guides

Not only 3D printing can make dental implants themselves but they can also 3D print 3D guides of supports that are needed to complete dental procedures.

There is a number of benefits of 3D printing in dentistry. The dentist saves money as he makes implants in-house also no skilled staff is needed to support. Subsequently patient saves money too. Manual model making is time-consuming while 3D printing is very fast and accurate. Overall there is a bright future for 3D printing in dentistry.

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