Rapid prototyping: A future in orthodontic

Abstract

The term “rapid prototyping” (RP) refers to a variety of methods for creating “physical models based on computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing”. With the aid of RP technology, practically any variation of the surface and interior anatomical structure may be replicated in a medical model that is constructed layer by layer. To create the physical model, layer-by-layer construction is carried out using a variety of processes, including stereolithography, selective laser sintering, inkjet printing, and fused deposit modeling. Data for RP is received from magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans, which are then turned into digital images and then into standard triangulation language files. The use of this computerized programming in orthodontics incorporates “diagnosis and treatment planning”, the creation of removable “orthodontic appliances”, “impression trays” for indirect bonding, “3D printed occlusal splints and aligners”, prototype models used in various orthognathic surgeries, and the production of a distractor for distraction osteogenesis. It increases a crucial understanding at the time of preoperative treatment planning and raises the effectiveness of the therapy, yet, clinical judgment is still essential. Applications of RP for an orthodontist vary, and if we utilize it creatively, the future appears more hopeful. This article briefly reviews key advancements, challenges, and prospects in the integration of rapid prototyping and 3D printing, shaping a promising future for orthodontics.

Keywords

• digital technologies
• orthodontics
• rapid prototyping
• additive manufacturing
• 3d printing