Redefining Digital Dentistry with Enhanced Patient Care

In the dental industry, indications are conditions that cause pain or discomfort and potentially endanger a patient’s life or health. For example, if a person has advanced gum disease and has lost several teeth, this would be an indication for dental implants or perhaps dentures depending on the severity of the disease. 3D Systems (Rock Hill, SC) offers the high speed NextDent™ 5100 3D printer powered by Figure 4™ technology, along with 18 new NextDent resins that bring their entire NextDent portfolio to 30 clinically-validated materials. By incorporating the NextDent 5100 into their workflow, dental laboratories and clinics are – for the first time – able to address more indications with one system. Using NextDent, dental labs and clinics can produce dental devices at dramatically increased speeds up to 4X faster than other available systems, all while reducing material waste and capital equipment expenditure as well as reliance upon milling centers.

Benefits also extend to the patient by reducing the time it takes to produce prosthodontics and orthodontics, as well as the number of required office visits. For example, dental labs that use a NextDent 5100 can reduce the amount of time needed to produce dentures by 70 percent to 80 percent, and patients are expected to need to visit the dentist only twice instead of the four to five visits currently needed. Production of prosthodontic and orthodontic devices via traditional manual methods is labor intensive and vulnerable to potential human error. Using denture production as an example, roughly 14 hours of work in the lab are required from casting the first impression of a patient’s mouth to delivery of the final denture. Models must be shipped back and forth between the lab and the dentist office, where the patient will make an average of five visits to be fitted for the device. This process also results in significant material waste in the form of plaster and wax that is used in each iteration of the models working toward creation of the final denture.

The NextDent 5100 is powered by proprietary Figure 4 technology that facilitates high speed 3D printing of dental devices and fixtures. The printer is compatible with industry-standard state-of-the-art intra-oral scanning and software systems, delivering more precise results than conventional manual production techniques. This end-to-end digital workflow also provides higher and more predictable uptime, with a significant reduction in risk for the operator. The NextDent 5100 is complemented by a portfolio of 30 unique resins, the largest number available from any dental material supplier. Offered in a variety of aesthetic colors, these materials enable dental labs and clinics to provide finished products that closely match the patient’s own teeth and gums. All of these dental 3D printing materials are biocompatible and CE-certified, making them suitable for a wide range of applications. The materials are certified in accordance with medical device directive 93/42/EEC, listed at the FDA and also registered in various other countries.

“We’ve brought a complete digital dentistry system to the market, combining an unmatched materials portfolio with leading 3D printing technology, software and services,” said Vyomesh Joshi, the president and chief executive officer of 3D Systems. “We offer the widest range of regulatory-approved 3D printing materials and technologies that allow dental labs and clinics of every size to drive precision, productivity, and efficiency at a reduced cost for a wide range of dental applications.” The NextDent 5100 is priced below $10,000.

3D Systems also offers their FabPro™ 1000 3D printer with expanded capabilities to address dental indications, jewelry and engineering applications, all for a price below $5,000. It delivers exceptional quality and speed with lower total cost of operation. Engineered for precision, accuracy, efficiency, and repeatable results, the easy-to-use FabPro 1000 is designed as a low-cost entry point for users who are new to the 3D printing market or who may produce lower volumes. 3D Sprint™ software is bundled with the FabPro 1000 to facilitate preparation and optimization of CAD data and management of the additive manufacturing process. The FabPro 1000 desktop printer is being optimized for compatibility with select NextDent biocompatible materials for specific dental applications, starting with surgical guides and orthodontic and denture models.

3D Systems, 333 Three D Systems Circle, Rock Hill, SC 29730, 803-326-3944, www.3dsystems.com.