Blog Post: 3D Printed Teeth Guide

Guide to 3D Printed Teeth With SprintRay Pro

In Case Studies by Tyler Brouwer

3D printing technology has revolutionized dentistry, simplifying and adding value to the work of dental professionals while improving the patient experience. Desktop 3D printers in particular are transforming the face of the industry by enabling quick and easy in-office printing of personalized parts such as aligners, surgical guides, occlusal guards, and crown and bridge.

One major advantage to owning a 3D printer is the in-office production of 3D-printed teeth.  Available for both temporary and definitive restorative applications, 3D-printed teeth are personalized, precise, aesthetic, and as strong as many of their traditionally-made counterparts.

Currently, most clinics opt for traditional methods of placing crowns, using cast models and analogue techniques. Dental professionals who have made the switch to digital dentistry have used 3D printing to produce models and temporary restorations, but the printing of definitive crowns has been out of the question for the most part.

3D Printed Teeth and Definitive Crowns

Developments in material capabilities and recent FDA approvals have made it possible to use SprintRay Pro to fabricate 3D-printed teeth, creating the first definitive printed restoration. 

In order to make 3D printing of definitive restorations a possibility, we teamed up with BEGO to validate their cutting-edge hybrid materials for use with the SprintRay ecosystem.

BEGO’s VarseoSmile Crown Plus is the world’s first material for 3D printing of permanent single and multi-unit restorations, inlays, onlays, and veneers. It exhibits mechanical properties on par with traditional composite materials, and provides the optimal balance of opacity and transparency needed for definitive 3D-printed teeth and restorations that look and feel natural.

3D printed crown up close

SprintRay Pro55 delivers incredible margins and surface smoothness.

Combined with a SprintRay 3D printer, these new and cutting-edge hybrid-filled materials allow for quick, in-office printing of definitive restorations, making single-visit dentistry a reality. These restorations can be printed at an extremely low cost in less than an hour, adding up to only a few dollars in production cost per unit.

High Quality, Low Price

Never before have definitive restorations been more affordable. Choosing a SprintRay 3D printer means that you’ll be able to offer your patients accurate, long-lasting definitive restorations for as little as $2 in material costs. Revolutionary, we know.

Chart showing the relative speed and cost of crown delivery methods

With full certification for definitive restorations in the USA, SprintRay Pro55 and our resin partnerships enable you to maximize the advantages of 3D printing technology and existing technology investments like intraoral scanning. The printing process is simple and time-efficient and the final product provides a realistic balance of opacity and translucence to mirror existing teeth.

Workflow for 3D Printed Crowns – Accurate, Simple and Hassle-free

Incorporating 3D-printed teeth into your dental workflow will increase both the efficiency and productivity of your practice. Aiming for a frictionless experience, our range of products works together to deliver a hassle-free experience and excellent results.

To ensure the printer is accessible and easy to use, we have made SprintRay Pro the most user-friendly, powerful, and reliable desktop 3D printer on the market. The printing process is incredibly simple and easy to navigate, and all members of your clinic will be able to get a hang of it in no time.

3D printed teeth workflow

Intraoral Scanning –  The first step to printing definitive or temporary crowns is to capture a digital impression of the patient’s mouth using an intraoral scanner. Once the digital imaging is done, you have the 3D representation necessary and can start to work on a treatment plan with the patient. Involving a patient in the process of planning a treatment can both increase patient satisfaction and case acceptance rate.   

Ordering Your Design – Once the desired digital impression is obtained, the intraoral scan data is sent over to a 3rd party laboratory which will handle the design process, producing a digital file that you can 3D print yourself. Therefore, there is no real need for design software knowledge on your part.

3D Printing Your Design – When the design is ready, all you have to do is press print on your SprintRay Pro and the printing process will start. It’s as simple as that!

Post-processing Your Design – SprintRay Pro Wash/Dry and SprintRay Pro Cure are designed to deliver a simple yet powerful post-processing experience.  

SprintRay dental 3D printer ecosystem with names below

SprintRay Pro Wash/Dry is the first fully-automated, two-stage wash and dry system built to deliver speed, cleanliness, and ease-of-use. Once your print job is complete, all you have to do is place your platform on the Pro Wash/Dry’s built-in cradle and press “Start”. The Pro Wash/Dry will handle the rest of the washing process for you, no hassle. 

Post-curing, a light- and heat-dependent process, promotes cross-linking reactions that help material reach their highest possible strength. Designed for high-throughput use, SprintRay Pro Cure optimizes your post-curing step to yield the best results in the shortest amount of time. All you have to do is to select the resin you printed with and the Pro Cure will take care of the rest.

Characterization and Placement – The printed crown can now be characterized using traditional methods, tested for fit against a die model, and then placed with standard self-adhesive cement.

Certified and Studied for Peace of Mind

We understand that when it comes to definitive restorations using new material, patient safety is a top priority. Our extensive library of dental printing materials has been validated and laboratory tested for the best possible adhesion and fusion to bone and gum tissues.

Source: Bego

In addition, VarseoSmile Crown Plus has been rigorously tested and validated in laboratory studies. 10-year performance studies of 3D printed crowns made using VarseoSmile Crown Plus found no detectable material fatigue and concluded that these restorations can be preserved for a long time. Solubility tests found an exceedingly low risk of undesirable biological reactions, while XTT assays did not find any evidence of cytotoxic activity from crowns made using VarseoSmile Crown Plus.

Source: Bego

Whether you use resins from SprintRay or one of our growing list of materials partners, you can be sure that your 3D printed teeth are accurate and strong.

A Fit for Royalty and Accessible to All

3D printing definitive crowns is a speedy, cost-efficient, and cutting-edge approach to restorative procedures. For as low as $2 in material costs, you can design and produce quality, accurate crowns that are personalized to your patients, all in your office, all in a single visit. 3D printing teeth not only makes single-visit dentistry a possibility but also renders it affordable and accessible.

 SprintRay Pro gives absolute control over your workflow, allowing you to fine-tune every aspect of your patient’s treatment plan. Designed for high-throughput use, it allows you to print FDA-approved definitive and temporary restorations in less than 20 minutes. The results are incredibly accurate and fit-for-purpose, delivering same-day crowns that are strong, long-lasting, and beautiful.

With the SprintRay Frictionless Workflow and new definitive restoration materials, incorporating 3D printed teeth, in the form of temporary and definitive crowns, will bring value and nuance to your practice.

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