Dentaltown August 2022 - 11

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3D Printing Has Made the Turn
The early days of 3D printing date back to the
1980s, so the fact we're discussing its use in dentistry
40 years later means the technology has fi nally
" arrived. " Of course, it takes many years for any new
technology to fi nd the multitude of industries that will
benefi t from it, and dentistry especially requires precision.
There's also a need for sophisticated materials and
cost-effective hardware that can print them.
Presently, 3D printing is reaching its fi rst infl ection
point in dentistry. As more dentists use this technology,
there will be a rapid increase in its innovations-but
rest assured, 3D printing is here to stay.
I started my 3D journey with equipment from
SprintRay, including the MoonRay S printer. I quickly
discovered I had a lot to learn.
The simple workfl ow you need to understand:
1. Generate the 3D object.
2. Choose the material.
3. Send to printer.
4. Clean the fi nished part.
5. Postcure with light.
In the early days, postprinting tasks were accomplished
with a series of Tupperware containers of isopropyl
alcohol and a manicure light bought off Amazon.
The experience had a distinct DIY feel and it was
clear this wouldn't be the process for mass adoption.
Goodbye, DIY
A great thing about technology is that companies
continue to innovate and improve their products.
When I swapped my fi rst printer for a newer model, it
provided a huge jump in process simplicity: The new
printer had an intuitive touchscreen, tasks were more
automated and the library of materials
continued to grow.
Then, the experience was further
elevated by two more pieces of hardware:
SprintRay Pro Wash/Dry and
Pro Cure. The printing process became
more predictable and less DIY.
Automating the postprinting process
is critical to the widespread adoption
of 3D printing in dentistry.
by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, editorial director
10 AUGUST 2022 // dentaltown.com
Orthodontist Dr. Dameon Fisher named his Formlabs Form2
printer as one of the top products in his Georgia practice.
Simultaneous with the hardware evolution is a continuous
upgrading of the software necessary for preparing
and processing print jobs. In the early days, I had
to import my 3D scans into third-party software for
editing, then move to the SprintRay platform, which
sent the job to the printer. Over the past two years, that
process has evolved into a sophisticated, cloud-based
platform that's remarkably easy to use and removes all
the manual processes I struggled with in the early days.
The fi nal piece in this puzzle is the method we use
to create the 3D objects for printing.
If you want a study model that's simple, you capture
it with an intraoral scanner and send it to the
printer. However, when you want a nightguard, denture,
crown or surgical guide, one more design step
must happen before you have something to print. Both
printer and scanner companies are getting into the mix
as providers of design services.
PHOTOGRAPH: PATRICK HEAGNEY
http://www.dentaltown.com
Dentaltown August 2022

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