Get Started with Dental 3D Printing
Much has changed since the first desktop 3D printers became available for the dental industry. While a few years ago 3D printers were only affordable to the largest dental labs, now they are a common sight in labs and practices of any size.
Consider the factors discussed above and the needs of your lab and practice—different solutions might suit some business better than others. Digital dentistry is developing rapidly, and new desktop solutions can produce dental products with similar or even better quality and accuracy traditional large-format 3D printers. Make sure to do your research, evaluate actual parts, and avoid paying a hefty premium.

Costs and Return on Investment
Adopting new technology needs to simply make sense for your business. Remember to consider:
• Upfront costs, including not just the machine cost, but also training and setup for larger-format machines, as well as, potentially, software.
• Running costs, best estimated with per-unit material costs.
• Servicing and maintenance costs, which can sometimes include compulsory service contracts and cost as much as 20 percent of the upfront cost of the printer annually.
All of these factors have a direct impact on how fast you can make a return on investing in 3D printing technology. The good news is that with smaller-format, low-cost machines that offer high-output quality, it’s now possible for dental labs and practices to achieve positive ROI within months.
Materials and Applications
Professional 3D printers are some of the most versatile tools found today in dental labs and practices, and the key to their versatility is dedicated materials.
The material selection varies by printer model. Some basic 3D printers can only produce orthodontic models, while more advanced models can manufacture highly accurate crown and bridge models, surgical guides, castable/pressable restorations, aligners, retainers, and long-term biocompatible dental products like splints or dentures.
Some 3D printers work only with proprietary materials, which means your options are limited to the offerings of the printer manufacturer. Others have an open system, meaning that they can use materials made by third party manufacturers. In the case of these third party materials, it’s important to make sure that the results achieve clinically acceptable quality and accuracy.
Manufacturers release new materials on a regular basis, so there’s a good chance that the printer you buy today will become capable of creating an increasing variety of dental products in the near future.

Throughput and Scalability
Transitioning to digital dentistry should be a gradual process, starting with a single application, and scaling up to multiple applications and workflows step by step.
The number of dental products a 3D printer can produce depends highly on the specific model and the application. For example, a DLP printer’s projector exposes layers to light all at once, whereas in SLA printers, the laser has to draw out each part. This leads to an increase in speed for large, fully dense prints. However, the resolution of the projector limits the build volume, so the overall throughput is similar. Inquire with the manufacturer for specific data on multiple applications and scenarios.
Throughput and Cost of Dental Products with 3D Printing on a Form 2 Desktop SLA 3D Printer
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