Digital dentistry, as we have discussed in our previous blogs, is rapidly transforming the dental industry. The dental industry requires the easy and fast production of highly customized parts. This is why three-dimensional (3D) dental printing plays a major role in orthodontic diagnosis and treatments. You would be amazed at how close the 3D printed dental products are to the design files used.

However, there is also an important question at the back of everyone’s mind: “How accurate is 3D dental printing?”

For dentists, accuracy is of utmost importance, especially when performing their roles in giving their patients the proper dental care. The replica teeth, bridge, or crown made with 3D printing must be made accurately to ensure that it perfectly fits the patient, thus preventing any complications from occurring.

PRECISION, PRECISION, PRECISION

For dental 3D printing, precision is crucial. This is why it is important to consider the type of 3D printing technology you or your partner dental laboratory is using. A study on the accuracy of dental 3D printing shows that the technologies available for use do not give clinically significant differences. This means that the technology used is accurate enough to use to replicate teeth, crowns and bridges for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment.

In 2016, the sales of 3D printers to the dental industry grew by 75% compared to the previous year. One of the reasons for this growth is the emergence of desktop 3D printers. These printers filled the gap between the costly polymer and industrial metal printers and low-cost consumer desktop printers. In addition, desktop professional 3D printers offer higher precision, accuracy, and speed at a competitive price. These combined qualities made these printers more suitable for dental practices and labs where rapid production of customized parts is necessary. Some companies lead the development and sales of professional 3D printers for dental applications such as EnvisionTEC, DWS, and Formlabs.

Aside from the advances at the 3D printer level, there are also more biocompatible printable materials that are available for long-term oral use. Although some biocompatible metals have been available for more than a decade, the availability of photopolymer resins has been limited until recently. There are now more resins that offer aesthetic and functional benefits over metals, too.

How Your Dental Practice Can Grow with 3D Printing

3D printing greatly reduces chair time with your patients. With its accurate prints, it also reduces the time spent for restorations, especially when there are no adjustments needed. So, if you want to reduce the time spent to seat crowns and bridges, and if you want to improve the accuracy of your work, then you should partner with us!

The Right Dental Lab Matters

As important as precision is for accuracy in dental implants and other treatments, you should also consider the dental lab that you choose to work with. At Backer Dental, we have invested in the most accurate 3D printers to aid our dental clients. We understand the importance of accuracy and precision to deliver quality dental care.