3D Printers
Browse our range of next generation dental 3D printers for sale from SprintRay and Asiga and Dentsply Sirona.
Asiga Max
Precise printing optimised for clinical and lab environments
Asiga Max 2
Every single layer formed under a closely monitored process delivering exceptional consistency and performance
Asiga Pro 4k
Upgrade with 4K DLP imaging technology and super-fast print
SprintRay Pro 2
Throughput meets precision with Optical Panel technology
SprintRay Pro 95 S
Intelligent workflows to meet the specific needs of your practice
SprintRay NanoCure
Post-cure your prints in just a few minutes
SprintRay ProCure 2
Exceptionally fast printing for effective chairside treatment
SprintRay ProWash S
Automated for efficient cleaning and minimal maintenance
Dentsply Sirona Primeprint
Gain the benefits of end-to-end automation tailored to dentistry
What Are 3D Printers Used For In Dentistry?
The amount of uses 3D printers are finding in dentistry is ever-increasing, and already an extremely long list. Here are just some of the highlights:
- Diagnostic models: Instead of biting down on unpleasant clay, you can now scan teeth and print out a model - a much more comfortable process for the patient.
- Low-cost customisation: Everyone’s teeth are different, so the need for customisable models and implants has always been clear. Now that 3D printers are affordable and digital workflows have streamlined, it is finally possible to give patients customised treatments without breaking the bank.
- Clear aligners: In order to make clear aligners – an orthodontic treatment with fast-growing popularity among both dentists and patients – 3D printed models of the patient’s teeth are made from a digital scan. After this, the models are used as a base for the aligners to be thermoformed around, to the unique specification of a patient’s teeth.
- Dental implants: Produce dentures, crowns, caps, and bridges customised to your patient’s oral anatomy, all from your own dental practice.
- Surgical guides: Digital technologies are now also making complex surgical procedures easier, as 3D printers can be used to create unique surgical drill guides, to make implant placement as accurate as possible.
What Makes A Good 3D Printer In Dentistry?
What makes a good 3D printer largely depends on what you want the printer to achieve. What types of solutions are you looking to provide by adding a 3D printer to your practice? Areas to consider are:
- Precision: Do you need to be able to create highly accurate, customised implants for your patients? Or are you looking to create models and examples?
- Reliability: Is the printer reliable? Can you afford to lose some models in the name of mass production, or do you need results every time?
- Investment value: Is the cost of the printer worth the return on investment you are expecting? Remember that the cost of materials and maintenance will continue beyond the initial purchase.
- Applications: What are you planning on using your 3D printer for? Are you fully equipped for digital dentistry, or will the 3D printer be your first venture?
- Materials: The variety of materials that can be used for 3D printing is part of the reason for their versatility. Some printers only support materials provided by the manufacturer, while others allow for open-sourcing. Material is key to your ability to create more advanced products; so do you just need your printer to create diagnostic tools, or do you want more?
- Scalability: When entering the world of digital dentistry, you want to start small; but you don’t have to stay small. If your business is growing - and your confidence in digital dentistry with it – you might want to consider investing in a multi-machine printing cell.
3D printing clearly has a major role to play in the future of dentistry, so don’t get left behind; browse our range of 3D printers now and find the right one for your practice.
3D Printing
Learn about the range of 3D printing technologies available and how to find the right 3D printer for your dental lab or dental practice.
3D Printing In Digital Dentistry
3D printing, or additive manufacturing, can be a great way of producing prototypes, models, and treatment devices that need to be tailored to a patient’s individual needs. The different types of 3D printing, detailed below, all have different highlights and drawbacks around cost, precision, material, durability, and speed.
3D printing in dentistry is not a situation where one size fits all, so you need to work out what is best for your dental practice. Are you a small practice looking to be able to create bespoke and individual solutions for your patients? Or are you a large practice with multiple surgeries and the scope for a high level of printing? Whatever your needs, you need to seek out the right solution for you.
No 3D printer has just one use, no matter which model you decide is best for you, they are all multi-purpose tools that can be used to create a variety of dental products to help in your practice.
There are four primary types of 3D printers in use: Stereolithography (SLA, SL), Material / Photopolymer Jetting (PPJ), Powder Binder Printers (PBP), and Digital Light Processing (DLP).
Stereolithography (SLA, SL)
Stereolithography is the most common type of 3D printer and also recognised for its accuracy and finish. The process uses light-cured photopolymer resin and a laser beam to build models in the print area layer by layer. In dentistry it is ideal for prototyping and producing accurate and detailed parts, tailored to individual patient needs.
Material / Photopolymer Jetting (PPJ)
Material/Photopolymer Jetting is a method where liquid photoreactive material is deposited layer by layer into a build platform and immediately solidified by UV curing lights. There are usually two different material types – one for the build and one for the structure to support the build during printing – which work alongside each other to produce an extremely smooth and high-quality model. PPJ 3D printing is particularly expensive due to the size of the printers and cost of printing materials.
Powder Binder Printers (PBP)
Unlike the PPJ system, Power Binder Printers require no support material as prints are built in a ‘powder bed’. It works by lowering the powder bed incrementally while an inkjet print-head deposits liquid binder. PBP typically allows for less accuracy and precision in prints, but whilst it may not be useful for creating parts for patient use, they can be useful for printing useful models and visual tools for patients and dental colleagues.
Digital Light Processing (DLP)
The fourth option, Digital Light Processing, is similar to SLA, except that it uses a projected light source instead of a laser, and cures entire layers at once. Benefits of these printers is that they have easy digital workflows, choices for materials used, and a small footprint; however they are expensive, especially when compared to SLAs, and struggle to have such a clean finish.
Schedule a demo
Digital Dentistry Guides
Digital X-ray Imaging
What have been the recent developments in digital X-ray imaging and what are its applications in modern dentistry? What should you consider when purchasing a digital X-ray machine?
Intraoral Scanning
What are the advantages of digital impressions over conventional impressions and what are its applications? What should you consider when purchasing an intraoral scanner?
3D Printing
Learn about the range of 3D printing technologies available and how to find the right 3D printer for your dental lab or dental practice.
Magnification
Being able to see the oral cavity in full focus is vital for diagnostics and treatment, which is why loupes, lights and microscopes are some of the most important tools in the dental professional's armoury
Register your interest
Please fill out this form. One of our representatives will contact you shortly.Services and Solutions
Fast Track Service
Fast Track allows dental practices to acquire high-quality dental equipment quickly, without having to wait for long periods.
Advance Rebate
If you're about to invest in dental equipment, you could be able to combine your costs and benefit from the Advance finance solution!
Henry Schein Financial Services
A vast range of financial products and services that are offered through our finance partners nationally
SunSchein Clearance
SunSchein offers a wide range of ex-showroom and ex-demonstration dental equipment, including treatment centres, laboratory equipment, and digital dentistry equipment.
