3D Printing Solutions for the Oral Surgeon: Surgical Guides and Beyond

Oral maxillofacial surgeons were early adopters of cone-beam CBCT technology into their offices for wisdom teeth,

dental implants, and jaw surgery.

With the addition of intraoral or optical scanning of the dentition, it is now possible to use 3D printing for surgical

guides for dental implants and jaw surgeries. Due to the customization capabilities of now available technologies and

the ability to improve the accuracy of the surgery there is a huge potential for implementing 3D printing technology

in oral surgery offices. The combinations of CBCT technology, intraoral scanning and 3D printing have significantly

elevated the rate of success and transformed the workflow of dental implant practice. Forward-thinking oral surgeons

are harnessing the benefits of this technology and equip their practices with a multi-purpose 3D printer to attain

the best outcome for their patients, while providing the needed versatility, and cost and time savings. As surgeons

continue to transition their practices to a digital platform, the next application has been in-office 3D printing. The

ability to transform patient data to fabricate in-office printed materials creates an end-to-end digital workflow that

increase predictability, efficiency, and profitability for practicing surgeons.

Participants will learn the workflow related to combining CBCT, intra-oral scanning, and in office 3D printing

technologies to print guides/models. We will also expand on the future of this technology for such application as

temporary & transitional prosthesis. The necessary information about 3D printers and software will be reviewed for

a variety of surgical applications and an emphasis on implantology. After attending this course an oral surgeon will

become totally independent of outside surgical guide vendors.

Points of Discussion:

• Common types of 3D Printers

• Different applications of 3D printing in an oral surgery office

• Intra-oral and table top Scanners

• Materials options for 3D printing in oral surgery

• Required software for in office 3D printing:

Diagnostic Software

CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software

CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software

• How to Merge diagnostic data file with CAD software

• 3D Model Creation

• Data file preparation for 3D printing

• Step by step how to use the 3D printer

• Design and printing tips

• Economics of in-office 3D printing

• Challenges

• Regulatory Concerns