Stratasys: Increasing Volume for Busy Dental Labs with Objet500 Dental Selection 3D Printer

While talking about typical dental procedures, dental insurance, and the general practices involved in taking care of teeth are one thing, actually having a serious dental issue is another altogether. Whether it’s an emergency dental surgery, or chronic orthodontic problem–the level of care and service is a serious consideration for both the patient and the dentist or orthodontist.

For any good doctor to take care of his patients in a superior way, tools are key, as is an office that is running smoothly with patients out front as well as behind the scenes where a variety of processes are happening. The world of dentistry has always been one to embrace change, new techniques, and anything that makes procedures more streamlined, efficient, affordable–and offers a way to produce better, higher volumes of dental models in office and in the lab.

With 3D printing, that world is undergoing huge transformation, thanks to companies like Stratasys, which may be known to the general public more as a 3D printing titan partnering in enormous manufacturing endeavors.

They are however, intricately tied to the dental world after developing 3D printing dental systems that are able to change everything about how models are produced for dentist’s office. With precision and a life-life appearance being most important in dental models, Stratasys has worked to refine tools for this part of the medical sector even further.

Now, with the Objet500 Dental Selection 3D Printer, labs producing large volumes of models can benefit even further with the possibility of greater productivity in multi-color, multi-material dental modeling. Volume is increased, and Stratasys states that with their triple-jetting technology, a ‘variety of dental-specific palettes’ can be produced, with multiple applications occurring at once.

Compatible with all open format color intra-oral scanners, the Objet500 Dental Selection 3D Printer offers a build volume of 490 x 390 x 200 mm, offering a work horse in the office for manufacturing models. Other specs:

• Horizontal build layers as fine as 16-micron
• Resolution of 600 dpi in the X-axis, 600 dpi in the, Y-axis and 1600 dpi in the Z-axis
• Accuracy levels of 20-85 µm for features below 50mm, and accuracy levels up to 200 µm for full model size
• Two build modes – high quality (16-micron) resolution, or high-speed (28-micron) resolution
• Cabinet dimensions of 1400 x 1260 x 1100 mm

Designed for larger labs, the Stratasys team sees this new printer as working best for those offices that ‘implement digital dentistry end-to-end.’ Laboratories using intra-oral scanners and in need of highly detailed models will be best served, especially in that the Objet500 Dental Selection generally requires little ‘intervention,’ meaning work flow is not interrupted for staff trying to accomplish other serious tasks, as well as speaking with and performing procedures on patients.

“Seven months ago, Stratasys transformed digital dentistry by enabling ultra-realistic dental models to be 3D printed in a single run. This new level of flexibility, precision, and efficiency, together with life-like natural tooth shade color models, was aimed to allow labs to streamline their digital workflow while improving their competitive edge,” said Steffen Mueller, General Manager of Dental Solutions at Stratasys. “Now with the launch of the Objet500 Dental Selection 3D Printer, we are adding increased throughput and productivity to this winning formula by featuring Stratasys’ game-changing, triple-jetting technology on a larger platform. We believe this is a ‘must have’ 3D printing solution for larger dental and orthodontic labs that want to provide a superior customer experience while maintaining profitable volume production.”

With the use of Stratasys flexible and rigid PolyJet dental materials, multi-color, multi-material dental models are able to be produced with both a gum-like texture and natural color in multiple shades, along with nerve canals and other anatomy in contrasting materials. These materials include:

• VeroDent (MED670) – a natural peach-tone material with high-quality detail, strength and durability.
• VeroDentPlus (MED690) – a dark beige material that creates ultra fine features and finish, and allows for excellent strength, accuracy and durability.
• VeroGlaze (MED620) – an opaque material with A2 shading, meaning dental labs can now offer dentist offices the best color match in the industry. This material is perfect for veneer try-ins and diagnostic wax-ups, and is medically approved for temporary in-mouth placement, up to 24 hours.
• Clear Bio-compatible (MED610) – can produce orthodontic appliances, delivery and positioning trays, surgical guides for temporary in-mouth placement and investment casting patterns for removable partial dentures.

Additional supported materials include VeroWhite, VeroMagenta, TangoPlus, TangoBlackPlus, a range of gum-like Digital Materials, and Digital Materials in a range of natural tooth shades.  Discuss this 3D printer in the Objet 500 Dental Selection forum thread on 3DPB.com.