3D Prints
Today, at a visit to the dentist, I became curious about the creation of an implant, or veneer.
That inquiry was the result of learning that an “impression” no longer needed to be made old-school. The method for years was to put a kind of “putty” into a horseshoe shaped tray, and press it against the patient’s teeth and gums to form a detailed, “negative” mold. Once set, the mold could be used to create a “positive” model from which to model dental appliances, bridges, crowns, and other devices that would fit well and function properly.
The dentist today, however, was getting his impression using an electronic “wand,” that was moved rapidly across the surfaces of the teeth and gums, as a nearby screen displayed a 3D model which would be used as a detailed reference for the lab.
As an AI response to a related inquiry informed me, “Digital dental impressions are high-accuracy, 3D virtual models of the mouth created using an intraoral wand scanner rather than traditional, messy putty. This technology uses optical or laser scanning to capture thousands of images, which are instantly stitched together to create a digital replica of teeth and gums in minutes.”
Half joking, I asked the dentist if appliances and veneers could be 3D printed now, and learned that “3D printing or ‘additive manufacturing’ could, in fact, create highly accurate, customized dental parts – crowns, bridges, dentures, and surgical guides,” in an hour or less.
3D printing has a real potential to be a disruptor across a broad swath of modern life. Parts are a problem when repairing or customizing any small household, automotive, office or shop object; when surgical implants need to be customized; for testing a design or concept for durability or scaling.
A short search revealed that the 3D printing of a few years ago, that produced little toys or simple objects like a cup or golf tee, could now handle a wide range of objects from industrial to artistic.
A sampling of the ways it’s moving into our day-to-day world:
At home: measuring spoons, custom cookie cutters, bag clips, and spice racks; cable management clips, drawer dividers, headphone stands, and desk organizers; custom phone cases, laptop stands, and charging docks; replacement knobs, hinges, battery doors, and blind tie-offs for appliances and furniture.
Fun, design, hobbies: tabletop miniatures, board game pieces, articulated dragons, and cosplay props like helmets and armor; fashion and jewelry: intricate rings, pendants, belt buckles, and eyeglass frames; working violins, ukuleles, and replacement parts like mouthpieces for brass instruments.
At work or in industry: complex parts and rapid development; custom prosthetics, dental aligners, bone implants, and surgical guides; fuel nozzles for jet engines, rocket engine parts, and lightweight car components; entire houses and bridges can be printed using large-scale concrete or metal printers.
Then if you really want to explore the boundaries of possible, consider bioprinting. This is the possible printing of living tissues, including skin, blood vessels and organs. Or the wonder of actually printing food, like chocolate, pasta, pizza, or plant-based steaks.
What is possible in science fiction is only a matter of time for the real world?
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