custom trays, surgical guides, models for clear aligners, and more. (Fig. 3, Sprintray Pro95) A subset of DLP printers that are becoming popular are cDLM printers. cDLM printers are high-speed and high-accuracy DLP printers. One of the most popular models in dental offices is the EnvsionTec EnvsionOne printer. cDLM printers can produce very fast prints, and are usually paired with an oxygen or nitrogen tank to help speed up the printing process. This gas layer helps reduce friction of the print, much like an air hockey table reduces friction of the puck on the top of the table. (Fig. 4, Envisiontec EnvsionOne) “It’s an exciting time in digital dentistry, especially when it comes to 3D printing. 3D printing can open a lot of doors to more comprehensive care for the general practitioner.” ᕤ Splints/Nightguards ᕥ Models for Digital Waxups ᕦ “Snap-on” Smiles ᕧ Temporary Crowns and Bridges ᕨ Dentures ᕩ Implant Guides µ Temporary Full Arch Hybrid Prosthesis It’s an exciting time in digital dentistry, especially when it comes to 3D printing. 3D printing can open a lot of doors to more comprehensive care for the general prac-titioner. For those looking to expand their services and skillsets, 3D printing may be a fun, profitable and reward-ing skill to take on. To quote Michael Galiano: “Technol-ogy makes what was once impossible possible. The design makes it real.” Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) A fourth type of printer that is seen in dentistry, albeit more “off label” is the LCD style of printer. These types of printers may draw some dentists’ eyes because of their lower cost, ranging from $200-$1000. The projection screen is a LCD screen, similar to a flat screen television or a smartphone screen. These screens cost less certainly, but these printers have been found to have a higher variation in speed, accuracy and complexity of use. In the author’s experi-ence, these printers and their softwares were much more cumbersome and not easily delegated. Uses For 3D Printing in Dentistry As listed above, uses of 3D printing in dentistry includes the following: ᕡ Models for clear aligners (direct printing of clear-aligners may be a possibility in the near future) ᕢ Retainers ᕣ Indirect Bonding Trays Fig. 3 Fig. 4 16 Winter 2022 JAOS
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Winter 2022: Page 16
