We’ve heard of teeth whitening performed by sophisticated lasers, and we now know there are at least five dental-specific apps available on your mobile device du jour.
So what is it about prosthetic dentistry, and 3D printing that can possibly be considered news for the average dental patient?
You make the call…
According to this story on prosthetic dentistry, mechanical engineers in Iran report in the International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing that printing our own teeth may not be so far off into the future.
You read that correctly, printing our own teeth is something that is very possible in the near future given this enhanced take on CAD/CAM dental technology.
The computer scans our chompers, and with a couple of mechanical whirs and beeps, our new tooth spits out of the print tray.
OK, maybe the technology is a bit more involved than that.
You can read more on ScienceDaily.com, and read how rapid prototyping can be used to fabricate dental objects such as implants and crowns quickly and easily even where features such as overhangs, sharp corners and undercuts are required.
While ‘single-visit’ dentistry isn’t anything new in the United States, this technology certainly promises more examination into how we as dental patients can not only improve our overall dental health experience, but also limit our time spent in the dental chair.
Watch this COOL process take place, play this video on 3D Printing and see how this Massachusetts company can fabricate a crescent wrench from one of these printers:
A tooth can’t be that much different from a wrench, right?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZboxMsSz5Aw]
