3D Printing and the Dental Industry, Miller Orthodontics Blog

Lately 3D printing and the dental industry go together like peanut butter and jelly—and with strides being made one after another for 3D printing technology and materials in areas like dentures, different orthodontics, surgical procedures, and implants, you can be assured with innovations for the dental field, both Dr Miller’s will be working to ensure that you can enjoy those peanut butter and jelly crackers, sandwiches, and much more exciting fare for a long time to come—as well as pleasing us all with your dazzling smile.

As a leader in providing professional grade 3D printers to the dental industry, EnvisionTEC is in the business of helping dentists keep the teeth shining and healthy smiles abounding through efficiency and quality of procedures, which can be achieved more easily with the use of 3D printed models. This is especially true when considering orthodontics. EnvisionTEC 3D printers allow for lower cost but higher quality production and manufacturing of dental products such as better fitting appliances, braces and retainers!

In line with keeping costs lower and production quality higher and more efficient, EnvisionTEC has just announced the release of a new product called E-Appliance, which is a 3D printing material used for making orthodontic models, and provides what’s most important—durability, strength, along with choices for the customer. E-Appliance is a nano-filled resin material that is meant to work with both EnvisionTEC’s Perfactory DLP and 3SP 3D printers which are made specifically for dentists. New E-Appliance material by EnvisionTEC This new 3D printing material works very well for making orthodontic appliances with polyvinyl alcohol based-separators and tin foil substitute for a “salt and pepper technique” of producing an orthodontic appliance.

3D printed models constructed with E-Appliance are promised to be manufactured with quality detail, precision, and an excellent finish. This is combined with a surface that according to EnvisionTEC ‘accepts a wide range of separator mediums for perfect removal of the finished appliance from the model.’ It’s very important to note that this quality material presents the patient with an array of options giving them the opportunity to enjoy a ‘design latitude’ allowing them to express their individuality.

With the use of CAD software, 3D printing, and a wide range of applications available to the dental industry, it’s a changing business that means upgraded dental health for patients due to affordability, better quality all-around, and efficient labs that can operate more independently and rapidly. EnvisionTEC products work with 3Shape, Dental Wings, or any other design software product. How do you foresee 3D printing changing the shape of the dental industry? Have you worked with any applications which utilize 3D printed dental models? Tell us about them in the E-Appliance Orthodontics 3D Printing Material forum over at 3DPB.com.

Here is an example of a XBow appliance recently delivered to a patient after being fabricated on a 3D printed model instead of a wet impression converted to a plaster model. Biometric studies have shown 3D scanned/printed models are about 30% more accurate.

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1389 Center Drive, Suite 160
Park City, UT 84098

PHONE: 435-731-4111

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