3D Printing in Dentistry
3D printing in dentistry is the additive manufacturing process of creating dental devices layer by layer from digital designs, enabling rapid and precise production of models, guides, and prosthetics.
Dental 3D printing has transformed laboratory workflows by enabling direct digital manufacturing of:
• **Dental models** — for evaluation and prosthetic fabrication • **Surgical guides** — for implant placement accuracy • **Temporary crowns and bridges** — quick provisional restorations • **Orthodontic aligners** — clear aligners from digital scans • **Denture bases** — framework for removable prosthetics • **Castable patterns** — for metal casting workflows
**Common 3D printing technologies in dental labs:** - **SLA/DLP** — resin-based, high detail, most common in dental labs - **SLS** — nylon-based, for durable models - **Metal printing (DMLS)** — for metal frameworks
**Lab workflow with 3D printing:** 1. Receive STL files from clinics 2. Process and prepare files for printing 3. Assign to printer and build table 4. Print, clean, and post-process 5. Quality check and delivery
Dentaron's production module manages this entire workflow with printer registry, table management, and job queuing.
Related: stl-file, cad-cam-dentistry, dental-prosthetics, dental-model