The Research & Development Tax Credit
Enacted in 1981, the federal Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit allows a credit of up to 13 percent of eligible spending for new and improved products and processes. Qualified research must meet the following four criteria:
- New or improved products, processes, or software
- Technological in nature
- Elimination of uncertainty
- Process of experimentation
Eligible costs include employee wages, cost of supplies, cost of testing, contract research expenses, and costs associated with developing a patent. On December 18, 2015 President Obama signed the bill making the R&D Tax Credit permanent. Beginning in 2016, the R&D credit can be used to offset Alternative Minimum Tax and startup businesses can utilize the credit against $250,000 per year in payroll taxes.
3D Scanning & Reference Models
3D scanning is used by dentists and orthodontists to precisely capture their patient’s denture in 3D with a high rate of accuracy. This practice is vastly beneficial, as dental surgery procedures can be very particular. Every patient’s mouth is different and the dentist is always working in extremely small spaces. In order to understand the various intricacies of each patient’s mouth before performing surgery, practitioners use 3D printed models to educate themselves and perform experimentations before the actual surgery. These experimentations often involve printing prototypes of the planned modifications and fitting them on plaster models of the patient’s denture before the actual modification. The benefit is that the results can be analyzed and modified accordingly before being perfected for the patient’s mouth.
Dental Implants
Currently 3D printers are used primarily for models and surgical guides. This however, is expected to change in the near future. Soon practitioners may be using 3D printers for final dental restorations. After scanning the patient’s mouth and evaluating individual variances between patients, dentists and orthodontists will then use 3D printers to directly print specific crowns, bridges, fillings and specialty products such as teeth that stay permanently white. This 3D printed process is expected to be not only easier, but also less expensive – costing about a dollar per printed tooth.
Retainers
Conclusion
3D printers are increasingly being used by dentists, orthodontists and dental labs to print a variety of dental products, tools, prototypes and reference models. As this process evolves, practitioners will continue to adapt, modify and experiment with it. When they do, they may be eligible for R&D tax credits, which are available to stimulate innovation.
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Charles R. Goulding and Michael Wilshere of R&D Tax Savers discuss 3D printing in the dental industry.