Product: Primeprint Solution 3D printing system

Dentsply Sirona has announced the launch of Primeprint Solution, an automated, medical-grade 3D printing system. The company says the smart hardware and software solution has been optimized for dentists and dental technicians keen on expanding their treatment and service offerings.

The system is able to run the entire printing process – including post processing – helping to reduce handling times and allowing for delegation.

The Primeprint Solution is said to enable the printing of biocompatible applications with reproducible and accurate results.

According to Dentsply Sirona, the “printing process meets strict regulatory requirements for medical products”. Beta testers, the company said, have called Primeprint “the easiest way to get into 3D printing in dentistry”.

Using digital light processing (DLP) technology, the process involves the layer-by-layer hardening of the resin by a light projector. The resins are polymerized using UV light.

The 3D printing solution further automates the post-processing of printed objects. In the past, this would have required complex, messy and time-consuming manual work, says the company. The simplified and automated printing process makes 3D printing patient-specific and biocompatible appliances a far less arduous endeavour.

Primeprint Solution will be the company’s maiden device specifically designed for seamless integration into the digital universe, created by the newly formed technological partnership between Dentsply Sirona and Google Cloud.

Announced last month, the digital collaboration aims to “connect many parts of the dental practice and dental lab across a vast array of procedures”. The partnership will spawn “new digital solutions for dentistry, powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms at scale and supported by an integrated cloud solution”.

“For us dentists, Primeprint Solution turns 3D printing into an efficient application for everyday use, and that’s also great for my patients,” said Dr Mike Skramstad, an American dentist.

“The workflow is simplified, end-to-end, so I can get the best possible results.”

As for Germany-based dental technician Christian Schuchmann, it’s all about efficiency

“I am more than enthusiastic about Primeprint, as it means 3D printing on a completely new level for our dental lab,” he added.

“The printer speed allows me to run multiple print jobs even during the day.”

Through Dentsply Sirona’s Cloud and Design Services, an open, collaborative platform where dentists and dental technicians can work together, dentists can request CAD designs (created by lab technicians) as ready-to-print files for 3D printing with Primeprint.

Primeprint´s process protocol is said to be based on medical device compliance and automatic case documentation.

“Primeprint Solution is the first of a new generation of Dentsply Sirona devices that will transform digital dentistry – as an integral part of a new digital environment for dentistry, ” said Cord Staehler, CTO, Dentsply Sirona.

“This system now enables 3D printing to be the professional solution of choice for dental practices and labs. Working with it, you will be surprised how easy it is to use. And of course, this is just the start. As materials continue to evolve, so will the treatment opportunities that can be solved with 3D printing.