Dental 3D printing; three uses cases from three Aluro experts
At Aluro Healthcare, innovation isn’t just a word that we throw around. As a primary provider of dental equipment and consumables, we always want to be leading the way, leveraging cutting-edge technology in the dental industry so that you can offer your patient the very best experience.
When it comes to revolutionary technology, it’s 3D printing that is continuing to make waves; advancing what is possible in any dental practice. To find out how 3D printing is transforming dentistry and discover some immediate use cases for your own practice, we spoke to three experts from the Aluro camp: Bruce, Michael and Lynda.
Bruce's Insight: Customised Dental Prosthetics
For Bruce, it’s the ability of 3D printers to streamline the process of creating dental prosthetics such as crowns, bridges and dentures that is one of its most significant impacts. By using digital scans of a patient's teeth to create a 3D model, dental professionals can print these prosthetics with unprecedented accuracy. The result? Well, it’s twofold. Firstly, you are improving the patient’s comfort and satisfaction and secondly you are able to treat more patients in the same amount of time, thereby reducing the lengthy wait times patients can face. It’s a win for everyone.
Michael's Perspective: Orthodontic Aligners and Retainers
Understandably, undergoing orthodontic treatment can be an overwhelming and costly experience for many patients. We’re going to guess and say if there was a way to reduce the time your patients spent in the dental chair whilst still achieving the same results, you would most likely want to offer it. As Michael highlights, this is what 3D printing can do when it comes to the manufacturing of clear aligners and retainers.
3D printing eliminates the need for physical impressions and allows you to create multiple sets of aligners simultaneously. Patients can then swap them out as needed throughout their treatment without the need to make further appointments. This not only accelerates the process but leads to cost savings for both you and your patients.
Lynda's Expertise: Surgical Guides and Bio-printing
For the more complex procedures such as dental implant placement and maxillofacial surgery, 3D printing can assist by creating precise, custom-made surgical guides to assist dental surgeons. By increasing the accuracy of procedures, you’re both minimising the risk of complications, discomfort, and recovery time for your patients.
Arguably, one of the most exciting developments is 3D bioprinting. Researchers are currently working on using a patient’s own cells to print living tissue which could then be used to create personalised bone grafts and gum tissue for regenerative purposes. This innovative approach could significantly improve the outcomes of dental surgeries and reduce the reliance on donor tissues.
Where 3D printing, currently, really comes into its own is in its ability to streamline processes and improve patient comfort accurately and efficiently. That said, as the technology continues to evolve, we’re expecting to see even more groundbreaking developments, particularly as bioprinting grows. And, of course, we will be here to share these developments with you.