3D Printed Orthoprints
3D printing capabilities bring exciting possibilities to the orthodontic industry. While this might seem like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, the advantages for you are very real. At NEO Lab, we've integrated the best of these capabilities to provide you with uncompromising, leading-edge technology, skills, and simple-for-you solutions.
3D printing for the common folks just keeps getting better and better. While it’s been a boon to the thriving dental industry with 3D printers capable of helping professionals fabricate a wide range of products from dental models and appliances to dental restoration products for offices, what about everyone out there struggling with the costs of dental bills and beyond that orthodontics. If you have children, and especially teenagers, the word orthodontist strikes fear in your heart, and terror for the wallet, offering a feeling that can last for years.
In a great blog, titled ‘Orthoprint, or How I Open-Sourced My Face,’ Dudley explains how he went to work on designing his own orthodontics after deciding his happiness was being unduly squelched by crooked teeth. And that, he did It turns out researching how to make teeth move around in your head is pretty interesting–and apparently, easy enough. Dudley, while concerned about a home-made dental disaster, did his background work. Once he had the basic concept of orthodontics down, he understood that he needed to 3D scan his teeth, make a model, and then figure out how to 3D print the appropriate materials this being a thermoplastic aligner–in the appropriate shape.
The tools he needed for self-orthodontics:
- 3D scanner
- Mold of the teeth
- CAD software
- High-resolution 3D printer
- Retainer material
- Vacuum forming machine
Working Process
SCANNING
The process starts with taking a 3D Scan or regular impression of your patient.
Common scanners: iTero, Lythos, 3 Shape, IOS Fastscan, Motion View, Next Engine
PLANNING
Orthodontic Treatment Software allows you to minimize the costs and other hassles of standard appliance design and delivery. Tooth movements, appliance fabrication, and digital storage have never been easier! Orthodontic Treatment Software puts you in control of your treatment planning at a dramatic reduction in overhead.
3D Printing
The 3D printers work by building the physical object from the ground up, one thin layer (16 microns) of material at a time. In our case, we use Verodent, an FDA approved material which is best suitable for fabricating dental appliances. This can take anywhere from 4-12 hours, depending on how many arches, and the height of their bases.
THERMOFORMING
Thermoforming units perform the last critical step to fabricating your patients customized 3D aesthetic solution.
With solutions for both the individual clinic and laboratories serving multiple clinics, 3D printing can help make practices far more efficient by dramatically shortening delivery times, improving service levels, while also potentially reducing costs and create perfect fitting aligners in minutes.
The future is free of gooey impressions and all of the complications that come with them. With an intraoral scanner, software and a thermoforming device, orthodontists can take control of tooth movement and their own appliance manufacturing, saving money and time. Dental labs can also offer time and money-saving manufacturing of models and appliances, with advances being made all the time. Very soon, it is likely that indirect bonding trays will also be 3D printed, saving even more time and money.