Applications of additive manufacturing in dentistry: A review

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing has been hailed as the third industrial revolution as it has caused a paradigm shift in the way objects have been manufactured. Conventionally, converting a raw material to a fully finished and assembled, usable product comprises several steps which can be eliminated by using this process as functional products can be created directly from the raw material at a fraction of the time originally consumed. Thus, AM has found applications in several sectors including automotive, aerospace, printed electronics, and healthcare. AM is increasingly being used in the healthcare sector, given its potential to fabricate patient-specific customized implants with required accuracy and precision. Implantable heart valves, rib cages, and bones are some of the examples where AM technologies are used. A vast variety of materials including ceramics, metals, polymers, and composites have been processed to fabricate intricate implants using 3D printing. The applications of AM in dentistry include maxillofacial implants, dentures, and other prosthetic aids. It may also be used in surgical training and planning, as anatomical models can be created at ease using AM. This article gives an overview of the AM process and reviews in detail the applications of 3D printing in dentistry. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2058-2064, 2018.

The fracture properties of metal‐ceramic composites manufactured via stereolithography

“…Here, the part is built bottom-side up, and therefore it requires supporting sections to avoid falling into the resin tank due to the gravity. [21][22][23][24] Thus, the use of Stereolithography (SLA), based on photopolymer resins with suspended ceramic particles (by at least 40% volume) appears to be an alternative technology for producing complex 3D printed ceramic parts. 19,20 The VAT printing process of ceramic resins allows the fabrication of complex porous structures with open and closed networks that can be of further interest in the biomaterials, aerospace, and dielectric fields.…”

“…19,20 The VAT printing process of ceramic resins allows the fabrication of complex porous structures with open and closed networks that can be of further interest in the biomaterials, aerospace, and dielectric fields. [21][22][23][24] Thus, the use of Stereolithography (SLA), based on photopolymer resins with suspended ceramic particles (by at least 40% volume) appears to be an alternative technology for producing complex 3D printed ceramic parts. 19,[25][26][27] Chartier et al 28 have investigated the use of SLA for manufacturing ceramic structures and have demonstrated successful production of detailed and precise complex lattice systems.…”

Regulatory framework in 3D printing

“…Medium & high risk Orthopedic implants, heart valves and dental implants are among the devices that are commonly fabricated using 3D printing owing to the ability of 3D printing to create customized implants based on the anthropometric characteristics of the patient [2]. In such a scenario, the 3D printed implant is sold by a healthcare service provider to the patient.…”

3D Printing and Digital Processing Techniques in Dentistry: A Review of Literature

“…3D printing was first applied in dentistry in the early 2000s, when the technology was first used to make dental implants and custom prosthetics . The up‐to‐date medical applications of 3D printing can be briefly divided into the following categories: tissue and organ fabrication, creating prosthetics, implants, and anatomical models, as well as pharmaceutical research concerning drug discovery, delivery, and dosage forms . The greatest advantage that 3D printing provides for medical applications is the freedom to produce custom‐made medical products and equipment .…”