IADR Abstract Archives
Dimensional Accuracy of Digital 3D Printed Dental Casts
Objectives: Recent 3D printing technology allows dentists to print their own dental casts. However, most commercially available 3D printers were not designed for dentistry. We compared two different commercially available 3D printers, Form 2 (Formlabs) and uPrint (Dimensions).
Methods: A Stereolithrography (STL) file of a dental cast was used to print 10 casts from each printer using the resin recommended for each printer. After printing, each cast was scanned and digitized using the E4D system. The E4D Compare software was used to compare the different between the printed casts and the original STL cast. Paired t-test, p=0.05, was used to compare the dimensional accuracy between the casts from each printer.
Results: At 100 micron tolerance level, the printed casts from both printers appear to have similar dimension. Form2 casts are slightly better at higher tolerance level (50 micron or less).
Conclusions: The dimensional accuracy of digital casts is dependent upon the type of 3D printers. Dentists should know the accuracy level of each printer prior to use it for dental applications. Moreover, some printers at lower precision may be useful for diagnostic casts. However, higher precision printer may be needed for work that requires more accuracy such as Fixed Prosthodontics.
Methods: A Stereolithrography (STL) file of a dental cast was used to print 10 casts from each printer using the resin recommended for each printer. After printing, each cast was scanned and digitized using the E4D system. The E4D Compare software was used to compare the different between the printed casts and the original STL cast. Paired t-test, p=0.05, was used to compare the dimensional accuracy between the casts from each printer.
Results: At 100 micron tolerance level, the printed casts from both printers appear to have similar dimension. Form2 casts are slightly better at higher tolerance level (50 micron or less).
Conclusions: The dimensional accuracy of digital casts is dependent upon the type of 3D printers. Dentists should know the accuracy level of each printer prior to use it for dental applications. Moreover, some printers at lower precision may be useful for diagnostic casts. However, higher precision printer may be needed for work that requires more accuracy such as Fixed Prosthodontics.