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Crucial Information about Digital 3D Printing in Orthodontics

by Michael Abdoney - 08/31/2020 -Orthodontics
3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing. 3D printing allows the creation of physical objects through a three-dimensional model file. The technology transforms how industries produce products and prototypes. Orthodontics and dental experts such as general dentists, orthodontists, and pediatric dentists take advantage of 3D printing technology in dentistry. 3D printing enhances the accomplishment of manual processes via digital dentistry. Additive manufacturing lowers the cost of equipment, saves time, improves competitive advantage, and boosts operations. Is has multiple uses in orthodontics. 3D printing eliminates tedious, manual process of making dental impressions and enhances accuracy. It makes an impact on pediatric dentist’s work. 3D printing with intra-oral scanners helps child patients to feel at ease. In dentistry, 3D printing benefits patients with small mouths, special needs, and gag-reflex. It enhances straight forward intraoral scan and mistakes collection by the dental assistant. It reduces the repeat for impression appointments. Intraoral scanners replace the alginate impressions taking process. The dentistry industry adopts scanning and digital technologies. Intraoral scanners capture images of the patient’s soft tissue and teeth to creates the mouth’s digital rendition. The scanners have online proprietary platforms for managing the workflow and exporting files to the lab. As digital technology replaces alginate impressions, skilled dental practitioners and assistants still are in the process for better outcomes whether one uses intraoral scanners of alginate impressions. OrthoDenco creates or receives patient’s files, correct and straighten tooth positioning then prepare files for printing. The process expects dental technicians to know about CAD-CAM digital technology. The dental technician should have comparative and measuring tools during tooth positioning correction. Dental experts receive a report with each case outlining the interproximal reduction amount and movement range required for each tooth. After finishing the design, 3D printing of the files is done. Digital files should be arranged properly on the platform. Digital Light Projection is used to project UV light over vat which has photopolymer resin and a completed CAD model slice is cast on it. The light then flashes across the printed area simultaneously to harden the created object. 3D objects are created fast than it is with other technologies. Stereolithography procedures entail the exposure of a photopolymer vat of liquid resin to a laser. The laser moves across the printed area to solidify the resin. Material Jetting works as inkjet printing but the photopolymers are applied instead of the ink. As the 3D Material Jetting printer form the dental model, it jets resin liquid layers to a tray. The resin layers are cured with UV light. Material Jetting provides high throughput.