Formalabs recently launched its Dental SG Resin, a certified biocompatible Class 1 material, designed specifically for creating high-precision surgical guides directly from 3D models. Marketed as first commercially available biocompatible resin for desktop printing, it will provide high-precision drill guides from digital scan data for implant surgeries.

A group of researchers from the Sri Rajiv Gandhi College of Dental Sciences & Hospital in Bangalore, India evaluated the marginal accuracy of Cobalt-Chromium copings (thin covering of the tooth’s crown portion) fabricated using DMLS, computer-aided milling, traditional casting, and ringless casting and comparatively analyze the marginal discrepancy. They used typodont resin model made of silicone impression material and 40 copings, for which they used 3D laser scanner from 3Shape to obtain an indirect impression of the tooth model, and then used the data to design the coping in 3Shape’s CAD software program, before they were 3D printed on an EOSINT M 270 3D printer from EOS.

Researchers from MIT and Draper University have developed a 3D Printed Microfluidic Device called Tumor Analysis Platform or TAP that simulates cancer treatments on biopsied cancerous tissue. 3D Printable in about an hour, the Chip device uses the biopsied tumor fragments placement in a chamber connected to a network of deliver fluids to the tissue and contains a new type of biocompatible resin, Pro3dure GR-10 Resin, that can support the long-term survival of biopsied tissue. The TAP is cheap and easy to fabricate and adaptable for clinical use.

A Team led by Professor Yoon Jin-sook from Severance Hospital, South Korea worked on 3D Printing Custom Eye Prosthetics on a large scale by solving the production cost and time. Following the scan of patient’s eye and conversion of data into STL file, the Eye were 3D Printed using Carima DS131 and Biocompatible Photopolymer Resin (FotoTec DLP.A, Dreve Inc.). To give them much realistic look, the Sublimation Transfer Technique was used to print the image of the iris and blood vessels on the 3D-printed ocular prosthesis.

Zortrax recently launched two brand new Resins for its latest Inkspire 3D Printing Platform for dental and prosthetic applications. Raydent Crown & Bridge is class IIa biocompatible, lasts 30 days, is safe for human contact and can boasts high abrasion resistance guaranteeing permanent smooth surfaces and anatomical shape for the duration of its usage. Another product involved Raydent Surgical Guide, Class I biocompatibility, which is safe for transient contact with human tissue, translucent to enhance visibility, features high dimensional accuracy to enable correct placement of implants or guidance for tools, and low viscosity and water resistance to make the guides easy to wash.

A group of Researchers in Italy approached 3D Printing to create Intraoral Occlusal Splints, which are used by dentists to treat temporomandibular disorders as they force muscles to relax and provide relief from pain. A 44-year-old man with unknown medical cause for pain in his jaws, was selected and fit with Intraoral Occlusal Splint to stop the pain and reposition the mandible. The team scanned the teeth of the patient and saved it as .stl file, followed by using 3D ProJet MJP 3600 Dental by 3D Systems to 3D print the Intraoral Splint, with VisiJet® M3 Stoneplast acrylic resin, made for dental practices. The patient got relief of the pain within three weeks and has been advised to keep using the splint for another six months.