New layer-based imaging and rapid prototyping techniques for computer-aided design and manufacture of custom dental restoration

Abstract

Fixed dental restoration by conventional methods greatly relies on the skill and experience of the dental technician. The quality and accuracy of the final product depends mostly on the technician's subjective judgment. In addition, the traditional manual operation involves many complex procedures, and is a time-consuming and labour-intensive job. Most importantly, no quantitative design and manufacturing information is preserved for future retrieval. In this paper, a new device for scanning the dental profile and reconstructing 3D digital information of a dental model based on a layer-based imaging technique, called abrasive computer tomography (ACT) was designed in-house and proposed for the design of custom dental restoration. The fixed partial dental restoration was then produced by rapid prototyping (RP) and computer numerical control (CNC) machining methods based on the ACT scanned digital information. A force feedback sculptor (FreeForm system, Sensible Technologies, Inc., Cambridge MA, USA), which comprises 3D Touch technology, was applied to modify the morphology and design of the fixed dental restoration. In addition, a comparison of conventional manual operation and digital manufacture using both RP and CNC machining technologies for fixed dental restoration production is presented. Finally, a digital custom fixed restoration manufacturing protocol integrating proposed layer-based dental profile scanning, computer-aided design, 3D force feedback feature modification and advanced fixed restoration manufacturing techniques is illustrated. The proposed method provides solid evidence that computer-aided design and manufacturing technologies may become a new avenue for custom-made fixed restoration design, analysis, and production in the 21st century.

3D printing based on imaging data: review of medical applications

“…On the one hand, customized implant and prosthetics are one of the other widely explored areas for application of rapid prototyping [33][34][35][36][37][38]40,41]. Also, 3D prototype models may be beneficial for the communication between clinicians and patients for demonstrating required treatment and consenting for the procedure.…”

“…The rapid prototyping technique has been applied in reconstruction for various anatomical structures especially in facial surgery like customized prostheses were successfully used for mandible [15,33] and dental restoration [34]. Hip [35], femoral [36], hemi-knee joint reconstruction [37,38] are other surgical areas potentially benefiting from the prototyping technique.…”

Rapid Prototyping for Biomedical Engineering: Current Capabilities and Challenges

“…However, progress is continually being made in developing new technologies, or in increasing the accuracy of existing ones, to obtain devices with higher-quality designs that are more suitable to patients (76). Multislice CT, for example, helps minimize the effect that the movement of muscular structures (e.g., the heart) has on data collection and on customization, and it even can be applied to soft tissues (25).…”

The application of 3D printing technology in obstetrics and gynaecology

“…3D printing has not only been used successfully in creating prosthetic limbs, hearing aids and dental fixtures, but also in developing more complex regeneration for damaged tissues . Certain medical specialties have focused on using the technology to create ‘perfect fit’ customised implants by printing from 2D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerised tomography (CT) reconstruction images and also to guide the surgical approach by appreciation of patient specific modelling of anatomy.…”