The world is rapidly changing for dentists and other professionals working in the oral healthcare environment. Some of the areas that are expanding the most have to do with the design and production of materials, and how they can be improved using computer assistance. CAD, or computer-aided design, is rapidly changing to give professionals more flexibility and creativity in their creation of crowns, implants, dentures, and more.
But in order to craft real-world benefits, the design hinges upon the manufacture of aids or prosthetic devices. For this, 3D printing technology has emerged as a revolutionary tool that can bring immensely custom solutions to offer your clients. Our industry has the opportunity to bring costs down while increasing speed and flexibility, and the earliest adopters look to see the most to gain. Here are just a few of the ways 3d printing is bringing both our science and our trade into the 21st century!
A Booming Market
The dental share of the 3D printing market is estimated to reach $12 billion within the next 6 years. This number represents a staggering amount of growth from under $3 billion last year. This expansion is highly indicative of the expansive use and ease that are now coming with today’s printers, as well as an increase in qualified technological operators.
Endless Applications
One of the best qualities of 3D printing is its ability to be used in nearly any capacity for manufacturing. Without relying upon molds or custom sculpting by hand, we can produce highly specific prosthetics or aids. They have become so reliable that even the United States Military has begun to use custom printed devices in our own soldiers.
As we know, each individual mouth has its own set of challenges and strengths. And we have addressed this in many different areas of dentistry and orthodontics. Porcelain veneers can help in alignment, as shape and scale can be adjusted. This technology can help to expand that same methodology to the creation of any other devices, while decreasing production costs!
Better Smiles For All
Our ability to craft dental prosthetics on-site has the opportunity to radically change the level of accessibility of dentistry for the entire world. As printing costs decrease, a larger amount of the population will be able to seek treatment, and at an earlier time.
Like with the addition of fluoride to water, the increasing democratization of oral health seems to be something that could change the world, if implemented well. Printers could be added to mobile dental health trucks in impoverished areas. Or in the more rural areas of our country, where care is diminishing, these could be deployed to help mitigate public health costs. All while increasing the quality of care and keeping our country at the forefront of innovation!