Additive Manufacturing Evolution
Insights from a forward-thinking event
Executive Editor Daniel Alter, MSc, MDT, CDT | dalter@aegiscomm.com
Additive manufacturing is no longer some fictional concept in the distant future; it is very much in the present and in the now. Nor is the process solely utilitarian for printing models. It has become appreciably important to recognize the ongoing evolution of additive manufacturing hardware, software, and—most notable recently—the materials available to 3D print in restorative dentistry. We are now printing faster and with better precision, complexities, and consistency; we also are enjoying new and improved materials such as resins, metals, zirconia, and more. The dental profession now possesses restorative materials and solutions that just a few years ago were not even thought of and therefore now afford for improved protocols and elevated standards of care for our dental patients.
As we emerge out of the pandemic, the influx of additive manufacturing is easy to see at trade shows; additionally, when speaking to laboratories throughout the United States and abroad, I have seen that more have adopted some forms of additive manufacturing. I was recently invited to participate on a panel at the Additive Manufacturing Strategies conference in New York, New York, where international engineers and additive manufacturing industry experts expressed keen interests and focus on the dental restorative landscape, which was substantial. Material choices, improved post-processing, and automation initiatives were among the topics of great interest, both from the professionals in the dental restorative space and from additive experts and companies attending or exhibiting in person and virtually. I left the conference incredibly energized and excited for what will be the future of dental laboratory technology and restorative dentistry.
As this space continues to grow and evolve, the astute dental laboratory owner and manager ought to maintain a close eye on these developments, because there is no doubt in my mind that we will continue to make our dental solutions and restorative offerings—digital dentures, orthodontics, implantology, fixed restorations, and so much more—persist to improve workflows, hardware, software, and material choices. In fact, I made a prediction at the conference: I believe that within the next 5 to 10 years, there will be a 3D printer in most households in America. Anecdotally, the world is amassing a database of .STL files, with many holding these databases on the cloud and offering them free of charge, as a community of developers. Therefore, it is plausible to imagine a world whereby, if a consumer needs a washer from the hardware store or a piece for their child's toy, rather than getting in a car to drive to the store, they will be able to download the desired object's digital file and nest it in order to 3D print it immediately, easily, and accurately in the material of their choice. Just imagine the possibilities and the benefits this technology and the new way of living can provide with additive manufacturing.
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