3D printing in the Dental sector is on the move. The research analysts of iData predict the dental prosthetics markets will surpass $11.2 billion 2011. As practitioners invest in new technology, that growth is expected to continue, reaching $16.3 billion by 2017.
“Rapid prototyping/3D printing utilizes an additive manufacturing process which is more efficient with material usage compared to CAD/CAM manufacturing,” said Kamran Zamanian, CEO of iData. “As dental printers gain the ability to print in ceramic materials and increase compatibility with other CAD/CAM devices, they are expected to cannibalize a portion of CAD/CAM sales.”
Zamanian identified 3D Systems as one of the companies currently leading the 3D printing market. The company recently demonstrated the capabilities of 3D printing for dental practices at the International Dental Show in Germany.
3d Printing in Dental Labs
For a growing number of dental lab owners, digital dentistry is getting part of daily business. By incorporated CAD/CAM automation into their strategic business models, dental labs are able to save time and labor, while at the same time improve the quality and precision of dental parts they manufacture.
At the heart of the new era in digital design is 3D printing. By combining oral scanning, CAD/CAM design and 3D printing, dental labs can accurately and rapidly manufacture products like crowns, bridges, stone models, and a range of orthodontic appliances for dental offices.
Save Time. Enhance Treatment Precision With a 3D printer doing the hard work, dental labs can eliminate the bottleneck of manual modeling and allow the business to expand and grow.