The Challenge of 3D Printing Teeth

Shifting from handcrafted plaster to intraoral scanners and 3D printers, the creation of dental models has gotten faster and more accurate

These innovations are changing the way dentists and labs work. Digital technology also can be used to plan surgery and fashion partial frameworks for dentures. The big remaining challenge is 3D printed teeth, crowns and bridges, expected by some to arrive within the next decade. This could eliminate hand coloring, whose results are not always aesthetic. Hurdles include guaranteeing biocompatibility, while ensuring the right mechanical properties and stability for the life of the patient. Printer prices should drop as the market expands.