Evolving Hardware Makes More Possible

The first question you need to ask involves what you want to make with the 3D printer. If you plan to use it only for models, then the most important aspect is fidelity and accuracy because you are relying on that model to be a very good representation of the patient's mouth. Once you have established that, do not get caught up in DLP vs SLA, etc. I have found from experience that any of those technologies can produce high levels of quality, and any of them can come up short in certain areas. It depends on how the printer is designed. Some printers produce excellent surgical guides and bite guards but may not perform as well producing crown-and-bridge models, and vice versa.

We tend to get preoccupied with build size and speed. While those are undoubtedly important factors for high-production, volume laboratories, they still must be balanced with other factors. For example, one machine with a large build platform might print 13% faster than another, but if you are unsure of whether the models at the edge of the build platform are as precise or accurate as those in the center, then that extra 13% speed does not provide any advantage. Accuracy, ease of use, and reliability are my three priorities in a printer.

I talk a lot about flexibility being an important trend, but truthfully, I have always been open to either option. Both are completely acceptable. I have completely open printers and completely closed ones, and I love them both. The closed system is so reliable and so fast; because of that efficiency, I do not mind being limited to that manufacturer's resins. Meanwhile, I can use my open printer for anything, and it might not be as fast, but it is equally reliable. If I need something quick, such as a same-day denture, a closed system allows me to capitalize on super-fast 3D printing. Conversely, if I want to utilize the latest ceramic materials, I need to use my open system, and it just may take a little longer.

The market is fairly well developed, with most options priced similarly, so technicians and clinicians are looking for solutions. For some, the solution is a completely flexible workflow; for others, it is super-fast printing with supports that just peel away, or perhaps something with a special build platform for crowns. Those are all solutions. We are all looking for the golden printer that can do everything, but it does not exist. We all want the "best" 3D printer, but that term is relative to each person. Figure out what you want to make, and go from there.

Michael D. Scherer, DMD, MS, is the chief clinical officer at Zest Dental Solutions and a private practitioner in Sonora, California.