The application of 3D printing technology in the field of dental restoration mainly includes removable dentures, orthotics and implants. Dentistry is the most promising field that can be applied in the medical field of 3D printing technology on a large scale, and is also one of the most promising fields in non biological 3D printing.


The factors that clinicians need to consider before oral implant surgery are: (1) there is enough alveolar bone around the implant; (2) Implant surgery can not destroy important anatomical structures; (3) The position, direction, angle and depth of implant shall meet the requirements of restoration and aesthetics. For example, how to ensure the implant implantation to the ideal position and reduce the risk of surgery and the occurrence of complications, especially for some patients with insufficient bone mass, it is necessary to maximize the use of residual bone during the operation, and ensure the accuracy of the position, direction and angle of implant implantation, so as to avoid damaging important anatomical structures. These are great challenges for clinicians, especially inexperienced doctors.


The traditional oral implant technology only takes X-ray before operation, which can not realize the three-dimensional structure of the implant area. The preoperative information obtained from the X-ray film is not complete, which often leads to the increase of uncertain factors during the operation, the extension of the operation time, and the poor predictability of the curative effect. The accuracy of the implant repair can not be guaranteed, and the application is limited to a certain extent. With the advent of computer tomography (CT), doctors can learn more, more comprehensive and more detailed two-dimensional plane data before operation with the help of CT, and the relationship with surrounding tissue structure is more accurate. They can not only realize three-dimensional images but also carry out accurate measurement, and realize the actual anatomical structure and morphology of bone.

(3D CT image shows each anatomical structure)

Since the 1990s, the CT accuracy has been continuously improved, the development of computer-aided implant design software and 3D printing equipment has been continuously improved, and the digital oral technology has become increasingly mature, making it possible to accurately transfer the preoperative implant scheme to the patient's mouth. In oral implants, more and more clinicians use three-dimensional digital methods to make preoperative planning, evaluate the bone volume and bone structure through CT scanning images, use computer-aided design software to carry out preoperative virtual design, determine the position, direction and model of implant implantation, and then use 3D printing technology to make the implant guide plate to accurately transfer the virtual implant scheme in the design program to the patient's mouth. The birth of digital 3D printing guide plate has greatly improved the accuracy and success rate of doctors' planting, helped doctors to carry out precise planting, so as to obtain the most ideal and accurate three-dimensional position and direction of the implant, greatly reduced the surgical risk, and was widely welcomed in the clinic. The digital 3D printing guide template for oral implant surgery, also known as the 3D printing guide plate for implant surgery, is a personalized surgical auxiliary tool that accurately transfers the pre-operative virtual designed implant scheme to the patient's mouth. It can help clinicians accurately control the position, direction, angle and even depth of implant implantation during surgery, assist doctors in implant implantation, and make the final implant repair and the ideal design scheme before surgery unified. Author: finite element analysis technology