(506) 2240-6804
Dentist 3d printer
Dental 3D Printers - SprintRay Inc.
Let's get one thing straight:
3D printing solutions must know exactly which problems they're trying to solve.
Thanks to recent advances in technology, design, and materials, the role of dental 3D printers is rapidly expanding from dental labs into individual practices. So how does this hyped-up technology actually work, and what about 3D printing makes it such a great fit for dentistry? And why are SprintRay 3D printing products are the forefront of the market?
RayWareDental Print Software
The adoption of dental 3D printers is driven by continuous innovation in three major categories:Biocompatible Materials
Materials innovation is at the heart of dental 3D printer adoption. While the production of models is crucial for many practices, the creation of dental appliances that can be placed intraorally, such as night guards, surgical guides, and digital dentures, are a critical to the advancement of this technology's role in dentistry.
Accuracy and Repeatability
Accuracy and repeatability are essential for dental 3D printers. In order to provide the highest standard of care and final fit and finish, extremely high accuracy is a non-negotiable. Recent advancements in materials and printing technology have supercharged the accuracy of 3D printers such as SprintRay Pro.
Production Speed and Scalability
In order to keep pace with a busy office, a good dental 3D printer should offer rapid print speeds and high overall production throughput. These are a factor of build plate size and light delivery technology and should not be overlooked.
Biocompatible Materials
View All Materials
Dental 3D printers reached an inflection point when biocompatible materials became widely available for desktop machines. These FDA-compliant materials made 3D printed parts safe for intraoral use and offered great mechanical properties, propelling desktop 3D printers into dental practices all over the world.
Since the introduction of biocompatible materials for 3D printing in dentistry, the emphasis has been on improving mechanical properties to provide intraoral parts that have great strength and a high resistance to wear. Because materials innovations can come from anywhere, it’s important to choose a 3D printer that offers support for third-party materials.
Accuracy and Repeatability
Accuracy Study
One of the central requirements of dental manufacturing is very high accuracy and repeatable results. Bringing manufacturing of models and other appliances in-office only pays off if the technology can provide the tight tolerances required for fitted parts. But it isn’t enough for a single print to provide accuracy; the results need to be easily replicated over time. Though printers can be easily bucketed into categories based on the details of their underpinning technologies, these categories rarely tell the full story.
While many 3D printers on the market provide high theoretical accuracy, not all offer results that are repeatable over time. The hallmark of a true dental 3D printer is to have both high accuracy and repeatability. As 3D printing technology continues to mature, there is an emphasis on the way light is delivered to the build area to ensure accurate, repeatable results.
Production Speed and Scalability
Speed Comparison
Same- and next-day production of dental appliances is a longtime dream of digital dentistry, and dental 3D printers have the capacity to make this dream a reality. But while certain aspects of 3D printing technology have begun to converge, there is still a massive difference in production speed and scalability. A large portion of these discrepancies are motivated by the technology that underpins each printer type, but many are not.
While dental 3D printers are sometimes used to printing only one or two parts at a time, many cases require the rapid fabrication of a large number of parts.
Clear aligner cases are the obvious standout, but batched nightguards, surgical guides, and denture bases all require large print volume as well. Emphasis of development in this region of the technology is focused on reducing both single-part as well as full-batch print speeds.
Reading Between the Voxel Lines
Parsing the jargon from the technology can be difficult. Here's where to start.
Digital dentistry is largely served by a type of 3D printers that fall under the umbrella term stereolithography. These printers use light to cure photosensitive, liquid resin. Broadly speaking, there are three ways to deliver that light, each with its own advantages and drawbacks.
DLP Projector
Projector-based Stereolithography- Long operating life
- Highly accurate
- Fast print speeds
The technology used in DLP 3D printers is the descendant of what you might find projecting your home theater system.
Projecting in a wide arc that reaches the entire resin vat at once, DLP printers are low maintenance, accurate, and very fast, making them perfect for digital dentistry.
Laser-SLA
Laser-based Stereolithography- Smooth surface finish
- Slow print speeds
- Complicated system
Like a consumer laser pointer, the light source in laser-SLA printers is a tiny pin dot of light. This pin dot reflects off of a rotating mirror and into the resin vat, drawing each layer as it goes. Because it must trace each part, laser printers are much slower for large jobs.
LCD Panel
Masking-based Stereolithography- Smooth surface finish
- Fast print speeds
- Costly, frequent repairs
Just like your smartphone, LCD printers use a small LCD screen to deliver light to the resin vat.
These printers are very similar in principle to DLP, but can be very cheap to produce. However, the LCD screens in these printers are often consumable, requiring frequent replacement.
The 30-Minute Dental 3D Printer
Here’s why DLP is right for digital dentistry.
While the ability to produce dental appliances in-office is revolutionary to digital dentistry, the speed of an individual 3D printer can make a substantial difference. A practical way to measure the outcome of this speed is to measure its output via the 30-minute test, which shows both the on-demand printing speed as well as the overall throughput of the printer. Because of its bespoke DLP projector, SprintRay Pro can produce a full platform of dental arches in around 25 minutes.
SprintRay Pro
Thanks to its simple touchscreen interface, swivel hood, and magnetized build plate, 5 minutes is all that it takes to turn the printer around for another job.
For a more rigorous test of overall speed and throughput of SprintRay Pro and its competitors, read our in-depth blog post on the subject.
Laser-SLA competitor
Laser-SLA printers use a pin-dot of light to cure photopolymer resin. While this results in clean surface finish, laser printers experience extremely slow print speeds, making it unacceptable for the needs of digitial dentistry.
LCD competitor
LCD printers often utilize a smaller build plate due to the size constraints of LCD panels. While they have high printing speed, they require frequent, costly light source replacement.
Cutting-edge Digital Dentistry Powered by SprintRay
The SprintRay 3D printing ecosystem is designed for the unique needs of dental professionals. With SprintRay as your partner, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in dentistry has never been easier.
Schedule Consultation
Desktop 3D Printer
Automated Wash/Dry
Automated Post-processing
3D Printing Materials
3D Printing Software
Resin Library and 3D Printing Materials
Resin Library and 3D Printing MaterialsSkip to Main Content
Dental Resins
Bring production in-house or improve existing workflows with industry-leading Formlabs 3D printers.
Our Dental Resins empower dental labs and practices to rapidly manufacture biocompatible surgical guides, splints, fixed patterns and models, clear aligner models, and full dentures.
Visit the Formlabs Store
See and feel Formlabs quality firsthand. We’ll ship a free sample part to your lab or practice.
Request a Free Sample Part
The Form 3B+ and Form 3BL are compatible with the complete Formlabs resin library of more than 20 general purpose and speciality materials.
Explore All Formlabs Materials
Data Sheets
Download safety and technical data sheets for all Formlabs materials.
Handling & Safety
Handling & Safety
Resin should be handled with care. Proper handling will ensure safe printing and efficient use. Our resins have been designed to be similar or safer to handle as other household chemicals or adhesives. Formlabs materials do not contain volatile solvents so special ventilation is not required.
Skin contact should be avoided.
The Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are up to date for every resin product and follow the latest government guidelines. Always consult the SDS as the primary source of information to understand safety and handling of Formlabs materials. For more information about handling resin, learn more tips for resin maintenance in our Help Center.
Technical Data
Technical Data
Plastics are complex materials, and finding the right one for your specific application requires balancing multiple attributes. Our library of resins is ideal for product development, rapid prototyping, and a variety of specialized applications. Download our Technical Data Sheets to explore the mechanical properties of each material.
Material
– Select –BioMed AmberBioMed BlackBioMed ClearBioMed WhiteBlackCastableCastable WaxCeramicClearColor BaseColor PigmentsCustom TrayDental LT ClearDental LT Clear V2Dental SGDigital DenturesDraftDurableESDElasticElastic 50AFlexibleFlexible 80AFull Materials LibraryGreyGrey ProHigh TempIBTModelModel V3Nylon 11Nylon 12Permanent CrownRigid 10KRigid 4000Soft TissueSurgical GuideTemporary CBToughTough 2000White
Language
– Select –BulgarianChineseCroatianCzechDanishDutchEnglishEstonianFinnishFrenchGermanGreekHungarianIrishItalianJapaneseKoreanLatvianLithuanianMalteseNorwegianPolishPortugueseRomanianRussianSlovakSlovenianSpanishSwedishTurkish
Technical Data Sheets
There is no technical data sheet available for the chosen material.
Safety Data Sheets
There is no safety data sheet available for the chosen material.
For more information, help choosing a material, or bulk orders, we're here to help.
All about a 3D printer in dentistry: features, applications, technologies
The first attempts to use 3D printing in dentistry were made by specialists from Align Technology in the 1990s. Using a 3D printer, mouth guards were made, which served as a start for the development of this technology in the dental industry. The process of making teeth was looked at from a radically new point of view.
But development did not progress as fast as we would like: it took almost 20 years to achieve satisfactory print quality and optimize performance. The first implant was printed by Layer Wise in 2012. In the same year, for the first time, it was possible to implant a patient with a titanium lower jaw, which was made using a 3D printer. Since then, the technology has evolved and raised the quality bar.
nine0003
The advantages of using a 3D printer in a short time to solve almost any problem. With a dental 3D printer, a significant number of required instances can be modeled in a single session. All projects are saved in files, so in the future you can re-make the same model if necessary. nine0003
It is no longer necessary to send the patient for 2-3 days to wait for the production of plaster models. Now everything happens much faster: the doctor builds a 3D model in a few minutes using an intraoral scanner and instantly transfers the data to the laboratory, where printing also does not take much time. Speed and maximum precision increase the level of treatment and really save resources and time.
What you can print
Let's highlight the most common uses of 3D printing in dentistry. Using the printer, you can create:
- demonstration and collapsible models of the jaw, sectoral reproduction of the upper and lower jaws in the occlusion;
- ashless constructions, caps, bases for crowns and bridges, clasp prostheses;
- surgical guides for implantation, individual trays, guides for maxillofacial surgery.
nine0034
Such a promising direction as the printing of permanent and temporary orthopedic structures, removable denture bases is actively developing.
About the types of printing
As we have already found out, the main task of a 3D printer for dentistry is to reduce the time of manufacturing restorations and reduce the cost of production without loss of quality and accuracy. We will understand the printing technologies and their features.
Stereolithography (SLA or SL). With this technology, a laser beam selectively impacts a container of liquid resin through the printable area. Thus, the resin hardens in layers in specific places and forms a three-dimensional figure.
Stereolithography gives the best surface finish on parts and is most commonly used in today's 3D printer models. SLA machines provide a large area of restoration construction and work with a wide range of materials designed for a variety of tasks.
nine0003
To switch from one material to another, it is enough to change the cartridge and the resin bottle. Relatively compact dimensions, ease of workflow and affordable price make SLA printers the best choice for dental laboratories. An example of SLA models - Form 2 and Form 3 from Formlabs, SLASH PLUS from Uniz Technology, Basic Dental from Omaker, Asiga PICO2.
Digital LED projection (DLP). nine0014 Here, the chemical process is similar to SLA, but a digital projector is used instead of a laser as a light source to cure the resin. DLP printers have a simple interaction process, a fairly modest footprint, and a good selection of material options, but at a higher price compared to SLA.
Due to the nature of the illumination of the LED projector, there is a tendency for voxel lines-layers formed by small rectangular bricks of material. Models made by DLP have inferior surface quality to SLA models. But it is worth noting that DLP printers print much faster than laser ones.
Examples of DLP printers include Varseo S by Bego, AccuFab-D1 by Shining 3D, D2-150 by Veltz 3D, Versus by Microlay. nine0003
PolyJet technology. The process is similar to that of a regular inkjet printer, but instead of inkjet drops on paper, the 3D printer blows layers of liquid resin onto the printable area. The layers harden when exposed to light.
Once upon a time PolyJet gained popularity in the dental industry, but its development was slowed down by two factors: the high cost of equipment and the impressive dimensions of the devices. Models made using PolyJet technology require long post-processing and are again inferior to SLA in terms of surface quality. nine0003
PolyJet systems produce parts very quickly, but are limited in scope due to expensive proprietary consumables. Therefore, in the context of our industry, it is better to buy a dental 3D printer with SLA technology.
SLS and EBM.
Allows titanium printing of ready-made elements for replacement of jaw parts. These technologies work on the principle of laser sintering of metal clay, a special metal powder for dentistry. So, the SLS and EBM systems allow you to work with a biocompatible titanium alloy. Since pure metal powder does not require a binder filler, the finished models do not differ in porosity. To achieve the required mechanical strength, the products do not require additional firing. An example of a printer capable of printing with metals is the EP-M150T from Shining 3D. nine0003
Filament printing. Technology is not relevant in dentistry and now we will explain why.
Printed with filament, a material similar to fine garden trimmer wire. The wound filament is charged directly into the 3D printer head, which moves on three axes.
Compared to other materials for 3D printing, this filament is quite inexpensive, but gives low accuracy compared to powders.
The most popular types of filament are ABS and PLA plastic. nine0003
Comparison of the main 3D printing technologies used in dentistry
To clearly show the main pros and cons of each technology, we compare them in a table format.
| Stereolithography (SLA) | Digital Light Processing (DLP) | PolyJet Technology | SLS and EBM technologies | |
| Precision | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Surface finish | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Print speed | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Availability of materials | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Metal printing | ||||
| Benefits |
|
|
|
|
| Drawbacks | Slow single print speed |
|
|
|
nine0003
Our CV
PolyJet technology is becoming a thing of the past due to high cost and imperfect print results.
SLS and EBM are more relevant for large laboratories than ordinary clinics. Therefore, it is worth considering SLA and DLP printers for everyday tasks. For example, take a closer look at Bego Varseo S, Formlabs Form 2. These devices have already proven themselves in the dental market and provide guaranteed high-quality results. You can see all 3D printers presented in StomShop.pro here. nine0003
← General requirements for the placement of portable X-ray machines | TOP 5 illuminated physiodispensers →
3D printing of dental models | Raise3D
“This was a new experience for me as I had never used a 3D printer before. But now I can say that today the results are very accurate and stable.
I am very happy that I have the Raise3D N1 and N2 because the size of the build area is perfect for printing the dental models I create. nine0324 I also really appreciate the ability to print with 2 extruders and plastic from Raise3D, which I use.
They are easy to print and have a great end result. Happy to have purchased these printers.”
Frederic Lapaire
Founder of the laboratory "Ortho 34"
Frédéric Lapaire is the founder of the French Ortho 34 laboratory specializing in orthodontics. The laboratory is equipped with 3D printers, which are used to provide a wide range of services in the field of dentistry. nine0324 3D printers make it possible to make dental models from plastic instead of traditional plaster casts. As a result, we get a more accurate model of high quality and snow-white color.
Dental model printed on a Raise3D 3D printer using PLA plastic
Traditional dental objects require taking impressions of the patient's teeth. This process is usually unpleasant, costly and lengthy.
Using additive technologies, 3D scanners and, of course, 3D printers, plastics and Raise3D software, we produce reliable models.
Among the advantages are: nine0003
- Improved accuracy through the use of digital scanning.
- Reduce production time by setting up an automatic 3D printer printing process 24/7.
Process
Orthodontists send a 3D file obtained using an intraoral scan to the Ortho 34 laboratory. The STL file is transferred to the ideaMaker software to prepare for printing on Raise3D. After printing, the finished models are sent back to the orthodontist. nine0003
The process of printing dental models on a Raise3D 3D printer using PLA plastic
Problem
The traditional method involves the initial casting of the patient's mouth. From the alginate mass, a rubber-like material, an impression form is made that displays all the details of the teeth. Once placed in the mouth, this material hardens and the mold is removed from the mouth. A plaster-like material is then poured into this mold to create a model of the teeth.
