Education Innovation

3D Printing in Dentistry: Key Techniques and Applications

3D printing has transformed dentistry by enabling the creation of highly accurate and personalized prosthetics, models, and devices. This technology employs various additive manufacturing methods, each with its applications and advantages. Here are some of the most widely used techniques:

1. Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)

This method builds objects by layering melted thermoplastic filament. The material is provided in spools, heated, and extruded along a pre-set path, to build the object layer by layer. It is ideal for producing prototypes and preliminary models.

Advantages:
Fast printing speed
Ability to produce final-use parts, not just prototypes
Wide range of compatible materials
Strong mechanical properties

Disadvantages:
Visible layer lines
Less detailed compared to other methods

  1. Liquid Resin Printing
    This method uses a photopolymer resin cured by a light source to form solid layers. The resin is stored in a tank and polymerized onto a build platform that gradually lifts as each layer is formed. There are three main types:

A. Stereolithography (SLA): Uses a laser beam to cure the resin point by point, creating a solid model.

Advantages:
High precision
Smooth surface finish

Disadvantages:
Parts can degrade when exposed to sunlight
Low mechanical strength
Requires removal of mechanical supports

B. Digital Light Processing (DLP): Projects images one layer at a time using a UV light projector, forming the entire layer in a single step.

Advantages:
High precision
Smooth surface finish

Disadvantages:
Parts can degrade when exposed to sunlight
Low mechanical properties

C. 3D LCD Printing: Similar to DLP, but uses an LCD screen to display only the necessary pixels for each layer.

Advantages:

High print quality; the more pixels the screen has, the better the result
Utilizes more affordable components, making it a cost-effective solution

Disadvantages:

Requires adjusting printer settings for each photopolymer resin
Prior experience and knowledge are required
Slower print times compared to DLP

3. Powder Material Printing

This method uses Selective Laser Melting (SLM), where high-power lasers selectively sinter powdered materials, which can be either plastic or metal. This technique is great for creating complex and durable structures.

Advantages:

Ideal for intricate geometries
Excellent for producing parts in small batches

Disadvantages:

Granular and porous surface finish

SLA, DLP, and LCD printing methods have advantages and disadvantages, as well as differences and similarities. However, it’s important to emphasize that each method serves different purposes and outcomes. In some cases, one may be more efficient than the others, while in others, the opposite might be true.

The choice depends on how well these technologies are understood and utilized to make informed purchasing decisions. An LCD printer is suitable for basic cases requiring good resolution, which covers the majority of lab work. For precise and complex cases, adding a DLP printer would be the best option. With both printers, most lab tasks can be managed at a low cost for maintenance, repair, or replacement with the LCD printer. In contrast, the DLP printer provides a solution for more complex or urgent cases, offering greater precision and speed, although it comes with higher maintenance, repair, and replacement costs.

The FFF printer is designed for a different industry, where it performs very efficiently. However, Renfert offers it for printing orthodontic models due to the high wear resistance and hardness of the thermoplastics used to create plates with orthodontic wire hooks.

Each 3D printing technique offers unique advantages, allowing dental professionals to choose the best option based on the specific needs of each case. 3D printing revolutionizes dentistry, providing precise and efficient solutions to modern dental challenges.

Share this article:
More articles
You can read other articles