The popularity of 3D printing in the dental industry has been expanding, and along with it the technology itself and the quality of output it is capable of producing. Today a dentist or lab technician can create a print faster, more easily, and more accurately than ever before. These improvements have led to an increasing number of dental professionals seeking the latest developments to add to their arsenal of tools – including the most advanced UV curing ovens and nitrogen sources.
Having all the right elements working together – from design to delivery – is the key to getting consistent results every time. A fully synchronized UV curing station is the final step to guarantee high quality, precise, and accurate results.
What is Dental 3D Printing?
Dental 3D printing is a digital dentistry process that involves producing a final dental application – a crown, model, surgical guide, etc. – via a digital workflow, with the application created from liquid resin through a process of polymerization.
The dental 3D printing workflow includes the initial intraoral scanning and digital design, followed by the printing itself and, perhaps most importantly, post curing steps. The final application is made from liquid resin which, through a process of polymerization, creates a solid print. UV light curing – especially the final cure after printing – is what ensures the quality and biocompatibility of a print; it is where the majority of curing happens. UV lights at specific wavelengths ensure the optimal strength, biocompatibility and aesthetic of the print. Incorporating nitrogen into post curing to enhance this final result seamlessly augments the dental 3D printing workflow.
Compared to a traditional analog workflow, 3D printing speeds up the process for the patient and the dental professional. The addition of nitrogen when curing 3D prints brings additional improvements to the accuracy and quality of your final result.
What Are the Benefits of Post Curing with Nitrogen?
Post curing with nitrogen using UV light solidifies the final print, and ensures it has met a set of health standards which reaffirm that it is safe to place in a patient’s mouth. This is especially important for restorative treatments and Class II applications.
Enhanced Mechanical Properties
Incorporating nitrogen increases the quality of prints by enhancing their mechanical properties, including up to 25% higher flexural strength. The cross-linking that is achieved through post curing is improved, leading to a stronger and more durable result. Furthermore, incorporating nitrogen into the post curing process ensures more consistent results. This means that patients are reliably receiving a better and more comfortable solution, and practitioners can deliver the best results possible each and every time.
Better aesthetics for dental applications
In addition to improved comfort and durability, nitrogen integration yields a higher-quality print with fewer sticky areas and cracks. It also creates enhanced aesthetics for transparent resins and avoids the distorted appearance that often appears after post curing. Nitrogen integration improves the color and smoothness of the final result, providing a more natural look and feel for applications that will be placed in a patient’s mouth on a more permanent basis. This in turn leads to better patient satisfaction, and the potential for more referrals or practice expansion.
Consistent UV Curing for resin 3D printing
Nitrogen maximizes the consistency of the 3D printed application and ensures that the print is cured evenly. This increased consistency helps reduce material waste. A curing method that is pre-tested and validated reduces trial-and-error, mistakes and re-prints, leading to the maximized use of all your material investments.
Maximized Efficiency for dental workflows
With the oxygen inhibition effect negated, curing happens faster and more evenly, reducing curing time and giving the patient a high quality result.
Today, patients are better educated on the treatment options available to them, and the technologies that are emerging. They are more interested and involved in their treatment, and want the best quality and the best price on the market. They also want the least number of visits possible, and will seek dentists with established expertise, knowledge, and technology offerings. When it comes to oral health, 3D printing is increasingly being sought by patients and oral healthcare providers due to the benefits it offers that a traditional workflow cannot, with nitrogen increasing the benefits of UV curing further.
The Science of Curing with Nitrogen [READ MORE]
