3D Printing: The Future of Dentistry?

Posted by: Dr. Sirakian Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry

When you think of going to the dentist, the only printing you might think of is for patient forms. However, with the introduction of 3D Printing technology into dentistry, it may soon become possible for your doctor to “print” you a new tooth, dentures, or retainer while you wait!

3D Printing is a burgeoning technology that allows users to enter digital information into a special printer to produce 3D models based on exact specifications. The technology has already been found to be incredibly useful in various fields, including healthcare, but it is expected that over the next decade it will become widely adopted by dentists to treat patients with more efficiency than ever.

3D Printing is already used in dentistry, but due to the high cost and large size of 3D printers, it has been limited to larger labs that have the budget and volume to make them feasible. These printers are primarily used to create highly accurate models of a patient’s teeth and mouth to assist in treatment planning.

As the technology continues to advance, however, 3D printers will get smaller, faster, and cheaper, making it viable for dentists to start using them right in their offices. There are already several 3D printers created specifically for dentists. Those using them are finding they save time and expense by allowing them to “print” models and surgical guides onsite that they once had to send out to a lab.

While the actual printing of teeth seems far-fetched, it seems to be where the technology is headed. Resins and other materials are being developed for use in 3D Printing that allows for the creation of safe, long-lasting replacement teeth, crowns, veneers, inlays, etc. Not to mention other dental appliances like custom clear aligners and retainers!

Imagine a future where impressions of your teeth are no longer taken using a messy paste and you don’t have to wait for models to be sent out to labs to be created. Instead, you’re “impression” will be taken with a digital oral scanner (already available!) and fed into a desktop 3D printer in your dentist’s office that prints out an exact model of your mouth in minutes. After using that model to develop a treatment plan, that same printer could even print out your new partial denture, retainer, implant, etc.

Seem like science fiction? Believe it or not, this scenario is coming sooner than you think!

Sports Drinks: Here’s the Catch

Reports indicate that 30 to 50 percent of U.S. teens consume energy drinks, and that 62 percent consume at least one sports drink a day. While the drinks hydrate and offer energy and minerals, there’s a side of them that most don’t talk about. Sports drinks are full of acid and sugar used to enhance […]

The Teething Myth You Have to Stop Believing

Many parents have the misconception that teething causes diarrhea. What’s the correlation, you may ask? It is believed that the excess saliva that comes with teething can affect the gastrointestinal system. However, although there is no evidence of a causal relationship, this idea may not be completely baseless, as teething babies put a variety of […]

Straighter Teeth in a Snap

Turns out you can have straighter teeth by mail! Well, at least that is what a few by-mail-only orthodontia companies believe. In an effort to help patients save money, some orthodontic companies are having patients send their impressions to them by mail instead of going in for a dentist’s consultation. While this approach may save […]

Alligators and Dental Science?

Did you know alligators can replace each of their teeth up to 50 times in their life? Humans are unique among vertebrates for being able to replace our teeth only once. But new insights into how alligators replace their teeth may help stimulate the same process in ours. Professor Cheng-Ming Chuong, M.D., Ph.D., has discovered […]

Fruits for Whiter Teeth?

Recently hailed as an inexpensive and organic alternative to teeth whitening, fruit concoctions have arisen as the new way to get those pearly whites. But is there any truth to all these claims? A study at the University of Iowa points to “No”. Associate Professor So Ran Kwon tested homemade strawberry-baking soda mix, over the […]