Korea’s 3D printing solution for temporaries

Korea: Nexways introduced Cube Seventeen, a new AI-based 3D printing service for immediate dental temporaries, which has been in trial service since the beginning of this year.

When a patient’s oral cavity is 3D scanned and submitted to Cube Seventeen’s digital dentistry platform Nexways, the dental temporaries are printed within 25 minutes via a 3D printer installed in the clinic.

Automatic modelling and design

The AI-based temporary tooth printing solution automatically models and designs temporary restorations through the QuveCAD Shell temporary tooth-modelling program when the patient’s 3D oral scan data is received on the platform.

The FMD 3D printer installed in the dentist can be remotely controlled and temporary teeth can be printed with PLA material approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

FMD stands for Fused Deposition Modelling, which relates to a type of 3D printing technology that works both horizontally and vertically – where an extrusion nozzle moves over a build platform.

“All of these processes are done within 25 minutes of receiving the 3D oral scan data, making a one-day clinic possible,” said the Cube Seventeen representative.

“Cube Seventeen’s immediate dental temporary solution uses a 3D printer dedicated to the FDM method, not the DLP or SLA method. In terms of printing speed and surface roughness, it is a great solution for temporary tooth,” he said.

“The FDM method does not require post-processing such as curing or cleaning after printing. As the 3D printer can be installed in your clinic, it can effectively reduce chair time.”

Eco-friendly material

In addition, Cube Seventeen directly develops and supplies PLA, which is used for 3D printing, using eco-friendly materials. The PLA material is made from natural ingredients such as sugar cane and cornstarch that do not harm the human body.

According to the company, the PLA is the world’s first FDM-type 3D printing material to have completed second-level certification by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It is currently undergoing FDA certification process in the United States.

Yet to go on sale, the company reveals that the material will cost less than photo-curable 3D printing materials.

“The production of temporary teeth is a huge burden in dental treatment, and I am confident that by using our system, dentists will be able to focus more on treatment without the financial burden,” the spokesperson added.

“It can be used in a timely manner to provide a comfortable temporary restoration for the patient until the final prosthesis is installed, thereby increasing patient satisfaction.”

Click here for more information on Nexways.