3-D printers are here to stay, so how will the industry incorporate them?
3-D printers have been around for a couple of years but few people have actually seen one. They are expensive, some costing tens of thousands of dollars, and the technology needed to support them is still being developed in many cases. However, these setbacks have not stopped people from dreaming of applications for them across many different sectors. The fashion industry loves the intricate, lace like designs that can be created, while the car industry is always looking for ways to save money on production. As they become more affordable they will definitely change industries.
Another area where 3-D printing technology is just beginning to be applied is your mouth. A company, Blizzident, is working on a new way to brush your teeth. They have created a product that looks like a mouth guard. It has both a top and bottom with the inside of the mouth guard being lined with bristles. The guard is 3-D printed to match impression of your mouth that you have to get a dentist to create. The company then aligns bristles on the inside of the guard so that they are in a 45 degree angle to your teeth, perfect for a thorough cleaning. You stick the guard in your mouth, bite down and grind a few times, and your whole mouth gets cleaned in about 6 seconds. The company even puts holes in the guard so that floss can be strung through it allowing a person to brush and floss at the same time. One of these brushes will set you back $300, and that is not including the cost of having an impression of your mouth made at your dentist’s office. They are supposed to last one year, and after that you can order a replacement for $160. While this is pretty steep investment for most people, hopefully as the price of 3-D printers falls so will the price of these brushes.
3-D printers are also beginning to be used to create tooth implants, crowns, and veneers. Traditionally dentists have to create an impression of a patient’s mouth by getting them to bite into a silicone mixture. Then the mixture is sent to a lab where the needed item is made. When the item is sent back the dentist then has to make sure it fits properly and adjust it if it doesn’t. 3-D printers promise to simplify this process. Instead of silicone impressions, they use scanners to recreate the inside of a patient’s mouth. The data is then uploaded into a computer and the necessary item, maybe a crown or a fake tooth, is printed. There are still a few steps that have to be done before the printed tooth is ready to be implanted into a mouth, but overall the process is simpler and quicker. Early uses of these printers for dental offices have been overwhelmingly positive, so look for this field to continue to grow and innovate in the coming years.
Dr. Potts is a gentle, caring dentist who uses the most advanced materials and procedures available. He practices comfortable, health-centered dentistry, with a strong emphasis on getting to know each patient. In addition to his technical proficiency, Dr. Potts is a careful listener. He makes sure to understand what you want and will explain beforehand what treatment is best for your individual needs, along with all options available to you. Check out our Twitter, Facebook page, and website.
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