Korean J Orthod.  2015 Sep;45(5):217-225. 10.4041/kjod.2015.45.5.217.

Accuracy of three-dimensional printing for manufacturing replica teeth

• Lee KY
• Cho JW
• Chang NY
• Chae JM
• Kang KH
• Kim SC
• Cho JH

• KMID: 2068516
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4041/kjod.2015.45.5.217

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a recent technological development that may play a significant role in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment. It can be used to fabricate skull models or study models, as well as to make replica teeth in autotransplantation or tooth impaction cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of fabrication of replica teeth made by two types of 3D printing technologies.
METHODS
Fifty extracted molar teeth were selected as samples. They were scanned to generate high-resolution 3D surface model stereolithography files. These files were converted into physical models using two types of 3D printing technologies: Fused deposition modeling (FDM) and PolyJet technology. All replica teeth were scanned and 3D images generated. Computer software compared the replica teeth to the original teeth with linear measurements, volumetric measurements, and mean deviation measurements with best-fit alignment. Paired t-tests were used to statistically analyze the measurements.
RESULTS
Most measurements of teeth formed using FDM tended to be slightly smaller, while those of the PolyJet replicas tended to be slightly larger, than those of the extracted teeth. Mean deviation measurements with best-fit alignment of FDM and PolyJet group were 0.047 mm and 0.038 mm, respectively. Although there were statistically significant differences, they were regarded as clinically insignificant.
CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that FDM and PolyJet technologies are accurate enough to be usable in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment.

Keyword

Orthodontics; Tooth; Three-dimensional printing

MeSH Terms

Autografts
Diagnosis
Molar
Orthodontics
Skull
Tooth*

Figure

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  Figure 1 Fused deposition modeling technology.

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  Figure 2 PolyJet technology. UV, Ultra violet.

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  Figure 3 Measurement of crown width and tooth height (mm). Measured, The length of printed tooth; nominated, the length of original tooth.

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  Figure 4 Color maps of best-fit alignment showing deviations up to 0.2 mm.

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  Figure 5 No. 1 original tooth (left) and replica teeth made with fused deposition modeling (middle) and PolyJet (right) three-dimensional printing technologies.

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