3D Printing

3D Printing Hyper-Real Teeth, Mouths & Gums with the New Objet 260 Dental Selection Printer

This week in Cologne, Germany, Stratasys is showcasing the Objet260 Dental Selection 3D Printer at the International Dental Show.  Leveraging Stratasys’ unique triple-jetting technology, the Objet260 Dental Selection is probably best put to use in mid- to large-sized dental and orthodontic labs that are looking to grow their businesses with realistic looking models.

3D printed dental models from objetThe Objet260 is already known as a multi-material 3D printer, and Stefan Remplbauer, the general manager of Austria-based 3DMedicalPrint said, “We are using the Objet260 Dental Selection 3D Printer to produce realistic 3D printed gingiva masks and models we couldn’t do before. We have not had 3D printed dental models that so closely resemble the actual teeth and gums.  The initial reactions from our customers, which include dental technicians, dentists and surgeons, have been extremely positive. This is definitely going to help set 3DMedicalPrint apart from our competitors.”

Realistic dental models produced by the Objet260 Dental Selection include “life-like gum textures for precise functional testing, as well as a wide range of shades for customized color matching.”

The Objet260 Dental Selection 3D Printer works with PolyJet dental materials, which allows users to create a wider range of dental applications and reduce equipment expenses.  Some uses include: implant testing with stone models that replicate the textures and look of gingiva for functional evaluations, and creating models with distinct features with gum-like materials.  From CBCT scan data, labs can even 3D print surgical guides directly with HD renderings of tooth, root, and nerve-canal anatomy color coded to illustrate different dental procedures.

Avi Cohen, the Director of Global Dental at Stratasys, said, “With the introduction of the Objet260 Dental Selection, Stratasys is closing the loop in digital dentistry by providing a 3D printer that can take the color digital file resulting from the intra-oral scanner and transform it into a color, multi-texture dental model. This directly contributes to better accuracy for the dental practitioners and better understanding for the patients.  For any dental or orthodontic lab looking for a competitive edge today and tomorrow, the Objet260 Dental Selection should be at the top of their list.”

I think it’s pretty nice that we are coming to an age where you can have a crown replaced almost immediately after having it scanned with an intra-oral scanner, having the data processed on 3D software, and then having the replacement 3D printed out for you while you comfortably relax with your pin-pricked gums, numbed out face, blinding light, and crappy TV or music.