Final yr, micro-precision 3D printing specialist Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) launched and obtained FDA 510(okay) clearance for its first product within the dental market: an excellent skinny 3D printed veneer resolution aptly known as UltraThineer. The veneers, reportedly the thinnest beauty dental veneer on this planet, are made utilizing BMF’s projection micro stereolithography (PµSL) know-how and provide advantages to each sufferers and dental professionals. Now, BMF has revealed the outcomes of a latest scientific case examine, which present that the 3D printed veneers had been profitable at masking tooth staining attributable to tetracycline with out affecting the pure construction of the tooth.
Tetracycline is a bunch of generally administered antibiotics, used to deal with respiratory infections, pimples and different bacteria-related diseases. Among the many unwanted effects of taking the antibiotic is critical tooth staining and sadly, this staining is taken into account intrinsic. In different phrases, the stain is within the tooth’s enamel and may due to this fact be tough to take away utilizing typical whitening remedies. Such had been the case for a 49-year-old affected person of Dr. Tai Ha of Newport Seashore Dental Studio, whose tooth had been stained since tetracycline use in her childhood.
For this affected person, the dentist urged the appliance of UltraThineer veneers, which couldn’t solely be simply custom-made to the affected person’s tooth, however provided a non-invasive resolution to the aesthetic downside. The method started with intraoral scanning to generate a 3D mannequin of the affected person’s mouth, on which the veneer designs had been primarily based. From there 20 veneers (10 higher and 10 decrease) had been 3D printed from an opaque zirconia ceramic utilizing BMF’s PµSL know-how. After this digital workflow, the ultra-thin veneers (measuring simply 0.12mm in thickness) had been positioned on the affected person’s tooth utilizing a no-prep adhesive protocol. Following the non-invasive process, the affected person reported a excessive stage of satisfaction with the brand new smile.
In contrast to conventional veneer utility, which usually requires the removing of a skinny layer of enamel (a course of itself that may necessitate using native anesthetic), UltraThineer leaves the tooth fully in tact. On high of that, whereas typical veneers are sometimes made by hand by expert technicians, UltraThineer are made utilizing a digital workflow, which may additionally contribute to decreased preparation occasions for dental professionals. One other profit is expounded to the extent of thinness that may be achieved utilizing micro-precision 3D printing, with a uniform thickness as skinny as 80μm for veneers, whereas typical veneers might be as thick as 500μm.
“UltraThineer’s potential to ship ultra-thin, extremely opaque zirconia veneers—simply 0.12mm thick—allowed us to fully masks the staining with no enamel discount,” stated Dr. Ha of the 49-year-old affected person. “The aesthetic end result exceeded the affected person’s expectations whereas preserving 100% of her pure tooth.”
On this case, the objective was—as Dr. Ha says—pushed by aesthetics to masks severe staining. BMF’s UltraThineer veneers can, nonetheless, additionally produce other advantages, with the robust zirconia ceramic serving to to strengthen and shield the tooth from put on and chilly acid stimulation. Furthermore, if the veneers must be eliminated or changed, it’s doable to take action utilizing an erbium laser, which doesn’t hurt the tooth’s enamel.
“UltraThineer 3D printed zirconia veneers provide a clinically efficient and [aesthetically] favorable resolution for managing tetracycline-induced intrinsic discoloration,” reads the case examine’s conclusion. This remedy modality is especially well-suited for sufferers looking for a conservative strategy with the choice for future reversibility. The fabric’s distinctive mixture of excessive masking potential, minimal tooth preparation necessities and laser de-bondability makes it a compelling selection for preserving pure tooth construction whereas attaining important [aesthetic] enchancment and sustaining long-term oral well being.
