- A SET of straight and gleaming teeth makes for a beautiful smile. But how many people who have undergone a little dental maintenance know that they may have inside their mouths some of the first products of a new industrial revolution? Tens of millions of dental crowns, bridges and orthodontic braces have now been produced with the help of additive manufacturing, popularly known as 3D printing. Forget the idea of hobbyists printing off small plastic trinkets at home. Industrial 3D printers, which can cost up to $1m, are changing manufacturing.
I do! I do! :) I watched the computer graphic of my tooth and how it was created on the computer. I then asked to be allowed to watch the machine as it shaped the crown for my tooth, essentially "printing" my new tooth. It was fascinating to watch. It took several minutes. It was not the fastest process. It still needed the dentist to look it over and work with the finished product. If I had to take issue with the process, I'd be wary of the ways that the 3D printer could be used to create things that were not checked thoroughly. I'm guessing there will be people who use the machine to manufacture things to eliminate the cost of the human factor. If the parts manufactured are placed in machines that people rely on, I hope there are quality standards that are kept high. In most cases, that still involves people.