14 votes

3D printing my teeth

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4 comments

  1. [5]
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    1. [4]
      balooga
      Link Parent
      The last time I had dental work done, a technician took detailed scans of my teeth and compiled them into a digital model of my mouth. From that they were able to construct the exact shape I...

      The last time I had dental work done, a technician took detailed scans of my teeth and compiled them into a digital model of my mouth. From that they were able to construct the exact shape I needed for a filling and 3D printed it while I waited. It fit right into place like a puzzle piece. I was blown away by the whole process.

      5 votes
      1. [3]
        Akir
        Link Parent
        Are they using additive manufacturing these days? The last time I got a filling done they were using a glorified CNC mill to shape a blank.

        Are they using additive manufacturing these days? The last time I got a filling done they were using a glorified CNC mill to shape a blank.

        1 vote
        1. TheDarkerZone
          Link Parent
          It depends on where you go really - in my experience, a lot of UK dental work is done with traditional methods involving a technician, dremel and a block of ceramic, or a CNC mill like you've...

          It depends on where you go really - in my experience, a lot of UK dental work is done with traditional methods involving a technician, dremel and a block of ceramic, or a CNC mill like you've described.

          There is a growing number of manufacturers of 3D printers who have developed ceramic printers capable of printing teeth out of zirconia, like the more well know Lithoz, Formlabs, and Stratasys systems, as well as lesser known companies (that i came across whilst double checking the above) like Ackuretta, Asiga and DentaFab. Their usage though is pretty small scale id say - I dont really see examples of the printed teeth at AM exhibitions. There was also a company who had systems that could print the ceramic implants as well as colour match them to the rest of the patients teeth but i cant find the name of it off the top of my head. I believe it was an italian manufacturer.

          5 votes
        2. balooga
          (edited )
          Link Parent
          Oh that’s a very good question. I was in the other room and didn’t see it firsthand. Probably they were doing the same thing you have experience with. I assume that produces a stronger result than...

          Oh that’s a very good question. I was in the other room and didn’t see it firsthand. Probably they were doing the same thing you have experience with. I assume that produces a stronger result than additive printing would, but I don’t know much about this stuff.

          Edit: Just saw @TheDarkerZone’s response, that’s a lot better informed than what I wrote, haha

          2 votes