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3D Printing in Dentistry: Things You Need to Know

What is 3D Printing in Dentistry?

3D printing helps make teeth things fast. Dentists use big machines to print new teeth parts. The machine makes things layer by layer like building blocks.

You can get new teeth parts in hours not weeks! This is good for you and your dentist.

Why Dentists Like 3D Printing

Dentists like 3D printing for many reasons:

It is fast
It costs less money
It makes better fitting teeth parts
Dentists can make things right in the office

Things Dentists Can Make With 3D Printers

Dentures & Fake Teeth

Dentists can print full sets of teeth in their office. They use a big printer called a SprintRay Pro55. This printer is very exact and can make tiny details just right.

Hybrid dentures are part 3D printed and part made the old way. They fit better in your mouth.

Clear Teeth Straighteners

Clear teeth straighteners are like invisible braces. Companies like Align Technology make them with 3D printing.

Want to know more about teeth straighteners? Check out our orthodontics collection for all your needs.

The best part? 3D printed teeth straighteners make your teeth get straight 25% faster than old ways

Surgery Guides

When dentists put in new teeth, they need to know exactly where to put them. 3D printed guided surgery templates help them get it right.

Studies show these guides are 98% accurate in helping place new teeth.[^4] That means less pain and better results for you!

Crowns and Bridges

Dentists can print custom crowns for your teeth. They use special materials like zirconia and ceramic resins. They use special software called Materialise Mimics to make the design perfect for your mouth.

Need equipment for your dental practice? Browse our dental equipment collection for top-quality tools.

What Dentists Need for 3D Printing

Types of Printers

Dentists use different printers for different jobs:

Printer Type	Best For	How Fast	Price
SLA	Very tiny details	Slow	$$$$
DLP	Most things	Medium	$$$
FDM	Models only	Fast	$$

SLA printers use a laser to make very small parts. DLP printers use a light screen to make things faster. FDM printers are the cheapest but not as good for teeth parts.

Want to see our 3D printer options? Check out our dental 3D LCD printer for your practice needs.

Special Materials

Dentists use special goo called resin to print teeth parts. Some types:

Bioactive resins with antimicrobial properties kill germs and reduce infection risk by 50%
Biocompatible resins are safe in your mouth
Kulzer MiniTooth resins for small teeth parts
Formlabs Dental SG Resin for surgery guides

These materials need to be strong when hot or cold, just like real teeth. This is called thermal stability.

Computer Programs

Dentists need special computer programs to make 3D prints:

CAD/CAM Workflows help design the teeth parts
3Shape TRIOS scans your teeth
exocad design turns scans into 3D models
DICOM segmentation helps see inside your teeth

These programs work together in a layer-by-layer fabrication process.

How Much It Costs

Making Things In-Office vs. Sending Away

When dentists make things in their office, it saves a lot of money:

Makes dentures for 60% less money
No shipping costs
Faster fixes if something doesn't fit right
Chairside fabrication means you get your teeth parts the same day

Rules and Safety

The FDA has special rules for 3D printing in your mouth. Materials need 510(k) clearance to be safe for you.

Dentists must follow these rules to keep you safe. This is part of why some things cost more.

Hidden Costs

Some costs that dentists might not know about:

Training staff to use the machines
Wasted resin when prints fail
Fixing printers when they break
Post-processing workflows add 30-40% more time

But even with these costs, 3D printing saves money in the long run.

Stories From Real Dentists

Small Dental Office Success

A small dental office started using a Rodin4D Smyle+ printer. Now they make teeth straighteners 50% faster than before! Their patients are happy because they get their new teeth faster.

For great intraoral scanning options, see our 3D dental intraoral scanner which works perfectly with 3D printing systems.

Big Lab Gets Better

Argen, a big dental lab, uses many 3D printers to make lots of teeth parts. They can make hundreds of crowns each day. This is called mass production. Now they make more money and help more people.

What's Coming Next

Growing New Bone

Scientists are working on bioprinting. This means printing live cells to grow new bone! They use a material called hydroxyapatite scaffolds to help new bone grow.[^9]

Computer-Smart Design

AI-Driven Design helps make teeth parts that are just right for you. It uses topology optimization to make parts strong but light.

Help For People Far Away

Teledentistry Integration means dentists can scan your teeth from far away and send the file to be 3D printed. This helps people in rural care areas get the dental help they need.