Dental 3D Printing

Advanced Dental Technology in Katy TX

Revolutionary Digital Technology for Precision Dentistry

3D printing has been around since the 1980s but was not used by dentists until the late 1990s, when the first 3D printed dental implants were created. Since then, dental 3D printing has become the highest standard of care for many applications, including crowns, implants, retainers, and night guards.

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How Does 3D Dental Printing Work?

Our dentists use 3D printing to create dental prostheses and devices such as retainers that are a perfect, exact fit precisely designed to fit your mouth. Crucial to the success of 3D printing is thorough training and understanding of every step for exceptional results. Mason Creek Dental is experienced in every aspect of 3D digital printing. The process has several steps:

We scan your mouth to create an accurate digital impression of your mouth, sending the information and images to the design station.
Using CAD software, your dentist designs the appropriate device or prosthesis in three dimensions. This will be the template or image used to print the final product.
The digital file is prepared for printing and sent to the 3D printer.
The device or prosthesis is printed, polished or trimmed, and cured.

What is 3D Printing Used for in Dentistry?

Any dental prosthesis or device can be made using 3D printing, including:

Crowns and bridges
Clear aligners
Splints
Surgical guides
Retainers and night guards
Dentures

How 3D Printing Has Changed Dentistry

3D printing is one of the most significant advancements in dentistry in the last 50 years. With 3D printing, long waits for a dental laboratory to make needed devices are a thing of the past. Your dentist can now create your dentures, retainers, and other pieces required right in the office. Dentures can be printed, tried, and adjusted without sending them back to a lab or waiting weeks for them to be refitted and returned. The cost of 3D printing is much lower than outsourcing to a dental lab. These savings are passed on to our patients and invested in new equipment to improve how we care for your dental needs.
Patients can now get incredibly accurate dentures, crowns, and more in fewer office visits, minimizing their investment of time and money. Repairs are also simpler and more efficient, leading to dental appliances that are more comfortable and efficient.

Is Dental 3D Printing Invasive?

No, we use digital images created from x-rays, cone beam 3D scans, and intra-oral scans to collect the images needed to create our 3D printed products. We never have to make an incision, and you do not have to sit with a mouthful of goop while an impression is made of your teeth.

How 3D Printing Improves Our Patients’ Lives

3D printing allows us to improve our patients’ lives in many ways, including:

Inexpensive customization of dentures, crowns, and more
Clear aligners that do away with metal braces and provide a gentle orthodontic correction that is almost undetectable
Digital guides are used for precision implant surgery to give patients more realistic results
Natural-looking, better fitting dentures
A better patient experience with fewer visits and no long waits