Russian Dental Aligner Manufacturer Turns to EnvisionTEC to Provide Cost-Effective, Accurate Models
A Moscow, Russia based aligner manufacturer, 3D smile founded in 2014 began its business as a small lab providing expertise and 3D printing services to orthodontists using an EnvisionTEC Ultra 3SP.
Since the beginning of its operations in 2014, 3D Smile has grown immensely. The company now produces over 10,000 aligners per month for its customers around the world. The company also expanded its digital services to the aligner manufacturer across the world.
As an expert in the industry, 3D Smile saw a niche for seamless digital aligner workflow product, and the company started the production of its specialized software solution; Currently, 3D Smiles not only produce aligner, but it also provides a full IT design, and workflow solution to aligner manufacturers (dental labs or dental clinics who have in-house 3D printers).
“There needs to be a strong link between ‘virtual tooth movement planning’ and 3D printing. To make the 3D plan effective (that is teeth are moved where planned) the aligners must be very precise. “
– Marina Domracheva, Founder and CEO, 3D Smile
Why 3D Printing?
3D Smile identified the benefits that 3D printing and CAD/CAM provide to manufacturers. The company realized that the older, or manual techniques utilizing gypsum or other materials that they were using to produce aligner were time and material consuming. The older techniques were also not accurate enough for the effective production of vacuum-formed tooth aligners.
“3D printing is an essential part of aligners. Effective aligners cannot be manufactured without precise 3D printing.”
– Marina Domracheva, Founder and CEO, 3D Smile
The introduction of 3D printing at 3D Smile allowed them to manufacture far more precise, patient-specific tooth models. Additionally, 3D printing also helped the company in delivering models to its patients faster, in a matter of a few hours instead of days.
The company is aiming to produce aligners via 3D printing, to cut yet another step from the process. By adopting 3D printing, the company can further improve the service for patients.
Why EnvisionTEC?
The 3D Smile knew the importance of selecting the right 3D printer and perfect 3D printing material. The company needed the best dental 3D printer and printing material that would allow the accurate reproduction of scans, cater to a large number of models that 3D Smile needed to produce, and have excess capacity for future growth.
Th EncvisionTEC’s 3SP range of 3D printers was the solution for 3D Smiles as these 3D printers allow for the production of large numbers of models simultaneously, either printed directly, flat on the build platform or vertically. The E-Model material allowed for the production of high-resolution models that allowed for the accurate reproduction of the CAD designs.
“We chose the EnvisionTEC Ultra 3SP printers based on their relatively low price compared to the speed and accuracy.”
– Marina Domracheva, Founder and CEO, 3D Smile
3D Smile has now developed processes for both minor and severe teeth misalignment. Severe cases require on average 30 steps (which equates to 60 dental models – 30 for each jaw). Multiplied by the number of clients, this is a lot of models.
The companies selection of the EnvisionTEC Ultra 3SP 3D printers and E-models has given them the ability to support this level of production. Additionally, the EnvisionTEC’s E-Model helped 3D Smile in reducing the cost of models which has made even the most severe cases cost-effective. 3D printing has brought hope to more patients than ever before.
3D Smile is using EnvisionTEC’s 3SP range of 3D printers since 2014, and even running them constantly. The company has found 3D printers a dependable asset that has supported them in growth
The Future
The 3D Smile software for the online visualization of treatment plans provides orthodontic and dental professionals with a new dimension of tooth movement planning and review. This, combined with 3D Smile’s in-house 3D printing facilities provides a full, outsourced aligner production service.
So far there has been immense interest in the software and production facilities. As the business and its service grow there will be an inevitable need to expand production capacity. When this happens the business will purchase further EnvisionTEC 3D printers.
Conclusion
3D printing is an essential link between digital design and processes and the physical world. Without the use of accurate, quality 3D printers and materials the software and design come to nothing as the appliances are not effective.
Using EnvisionTEC 3D printers and materials ensures that oral scans are reproduced as accurately as possible in the models. This, in turn, results in the best aligners possible that result in straight teeth. This ultimately is the goal, to give the patients the result they require and build confidence with the orthodontic professionals using the service.