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Dental 3D Printing: how are 3D technologies revolutionising this sector?

Additive manufacturing has reached a significant number of sectors and industries, subsequently offering important advantages in terms of productivity, costs, customisation and lead times. In the field of dentistry the technology creates solutions adapted to the needs of each pat

Dental 3D Printing: how are 3D technologies revolutionising this sector?
3Dnatives

Additive manufacturing has reached a significant number of sectors and industries, subsequently offering important advantages in terms of productivity, costs, customisation and lead times. In the field of dentistry the technology creates solutions adapted to the needs of each patient. It is also a flourishing industry, not too long ago the consulting firm QY Research announced that dental 3D printing was expected to reach $930 million by the end of 2025. In other words, the market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 17%, which can be explained by the constant development of 3D technologies and their materials. Indeed, dental 3D printing includes different processes such as stereolithography or direct metal sintering and therefore a variety of materials: resins, plastics, metals, etc. The application of 3D printing in dental is wide, it is possible to make surgical guides, crowns, trays and dentures and each solution is adapted to each patient with high precision.

It is therefore important to determine which 3D technologies are preferred in this sector and best suited for each application. Also, how are dental professionals reacting to the rise of 3D printing? And how are they preparing and training themselves?

dental 3d printing

Firstly, the dental sector can be divided into two families of actors: dental practices and dental prosthesis laboratories. Traditionally, they have worked together in the production of custom medical devices (gutters, crowns, bridges, etc.). In fact, the dentist takes an impression of the patient’s teeth and sends to it to the laboratory, which then manufactures the device usually from plaster. This procedure will take a few days, not to mention the round trips between the dentist and the laboratory. As for the patient, he/she will have to make an appointment again without any guarantee that the device will be adapted to his/her needs. The arrival of 3D technologies is disrupting this procedure and completely dematerialising work processes.