Formlabs and 3Shape Partner on 3-D Printing Workflows

Formlabs and 3Shape will partner to introduce software integration solutions for bringing seamless dental 3-D printing workflows to the worldwide market. The partnership’s first solution streamlines the guide design and manufacturing workflow for dental practitioners to make it easier and more affordable than ever to produce 3-D printed surgical guides.

With this solution, clinicians can create guides that are ready for surgery by scanning with a 3Shape TRIOS intraoral scanner and designing with 3Shape Implant Studio software, followed by simply hitting “print” with Formlabs’ PreForm software to finally 3-D printing and manufacturing the guides with Formlabs’ biocompatible DentalSG resin and Form 2 3-D printer all chairside and within hours instead of weeks for same-day guided surgery.

“Because of the huge time and cost savings, doctors are now using guides on every surgery when clinically applicable,” said Birk Ploennigs, product director of implantology at 3Shape. “This has translated into faster and more predictable treatments for their patients.”

“I can go from patient scans to planned case to fully manufactured guide with only a few clicks of the mouse,” said Daniel Whitley III, DDS. “It is really a significant pairing of cutting-edge technology from 2 innovative companies.”

The workflow will be demonstrated at IDS 2017 in Koelnmesse, Germany, March 21 to March 26. Further integrations across 3Shape’s suite of dental software, including Dental System and Orthodontic System, are under development and planned for release throughout the year to enable a wide range of workflows including restorative and orthodontics study models, splints, and 3-D printed dentures.