From the course: 3D Printing: Short-Run Production
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Dental applications
- [Instructor] Dentistry has a long history of mass customization. Every bridge and crown of necessity is unique but there are other applications beyond those for long-term use in the patient's mouth. Metal 3D printing can be used to create in-mouth metal appliances. Resin printing can be used to create molds and guides that might be in a patient's mouth more briefly. Comparing the additive for actual in-mouth appliances requires building confidence in material stability and longevity. 3D printed metal appliances are less of a materials issue because there's a long heritage of cast metal dental appliances. Bridges, crowns, and partials can be direct metal printed. Manufacturer 3D Systems has a printer for the dental market that prints nickel-free, cobalt-chromium alloy with an accuracy of plus or minus 50 microns. Either an interoral scanner can be used to get the pattern of surrounding teeth or a traditional impression…