Printing the future Yiannis Kotoulas speaks to Rik Jacobs about the rise of in dentistry. New Technology he 21st century has not turned out exactly as predicted by Tthe science fiction writers of the past. There aren’t flying cars filling the skies or robots walking the streets, but there are devices in our homes, like Amazon’s Alexa, which listen for our voices and carry out our commands. Companies like Boston Dynamics have taken impressive steps towards creating eerily life- like robots and the US Navy is even testing incredibly precise laser weapons onboard its ships. 3D printing is also seeing a massive expansion in its applications, from the inspiring printing of functioning human organs to the more sinister ability to download and create working fire-arms. But where does dentistry fit into this? Dentistry is currently undergoing a fundamental move towards digital workflows, with digital scanning, design, compatible materials and 3D printing all set to become essential Rik Jacobs, vice-president of 3D Systems' dental business. parts of providing oral healthcare in the future. 3D printing especially has the capacity to largely democratise Systems, a company co-founded and I learned my lesson. When the production process of many by the inventor of the 3D printing digital technology came to dental dental appliances, and dentistry process, Chuck Hull, in 1986 has I wanted to be at the forefront, so is one of the areas best suited to clearly recognised the potential of the I went back to school in 2009 and take advantage of the advances the dental industry and recently released learnt everything I could about 3D technology allows for. The largest the NextDent5100. I spoke with Rik printing.” Rik was privy to how 3D printing operation in the is Jacobs, vice-president of 3D Systems’ quickly digital technologies came carried out for Ltd, dental business, to get his views on to dominate one market and didn’t well known in the dental industry the past, present and future of the want to miss out on the next. This as the creator of the Invisalign clear technology. affected his approach to the dental aligner, who utilise 3D Systems' Rik didn’t study dentistry, instead market, and in 2012 he co-founded 3D printers to print over 359,000 opting to study international NextDent, which focused on unique retainers every day. 3D marketing management. He became reformulating existing polymers into active in the dental sales and printable, biocompatible materials marketing sphere around 20 years which would pass regulations. ago where he sold polymers and Creating printable and biocompatible monomers, materials which he also materials was essential for the sold for the hearing aid market. progression of 3D printing, and the Explaining this, Rik said, “I wasn’t concept attracted interest from big at the forefront in the hearing aid players in the market. NextDent was market in those days. That market acquired by 3D Systems in January transformed from analogue into 2017. Yiannis Kotoulas digital over a period of two or three As Rik explained however, there is editorial assistant at The Dentist. years between 2007 and 2009, wasn’t always a belief in the

72 The Dentist July 2019 New Technology

An example of a 3D printed dental splint.

uses of 3D printing for dental digital dental revolution is important As complicated pieces of applications. He elaborated, “People however, and I asked Rik about equipment, learning to use 3D still had some hesitations and what role the technology plays. He printers to their fullest can require a questions about the durability of the said, “Most dentists will find a use fairly significant amount of training. materials even five years ago; they for an intraoral scanner as a more Rik explained, “3D printing can sound weren’t sure that you could print accurate and convenient alternative a little too good to be true, but we’re crowns or dentures that would stay to analogue impression materials, sometimes faced with people that in a patient’s mouth for very long. but what gets done with that scan think they can start using their printer Back then a few things still needed to afterwards is important. If the patient without any training and expect great happen to make 3D printing viable in needs a denture the dentist can send results; if you put rubbish into the dentistry; software companies needed the scan to a lab so that a denture printer, you’ll get rubbish out. That’s to develop software design solutions, could be designed and printed, or something I’m always explaining and materials needed to be proven and with a 3D printer the dentist could emphasising.” more advanced 3D printers needed print the denture themselves in their 3D printing is sure to play an to be developed. I was convinced it practice. Completely new business important part in the digital future of could be done but people were very models are coming into the market dentistry, and as materials become cautious, so it was only in 2018, with this technology. A one-surgery more and more advanced the when we were able to combine all practice probably won’t have much applications of the technology will these factors, that there was a real use for a 3D printer, for example, only grow. But printers in labs and in tipping point for 3D printing.” but even the smallest of practices practice are already changing dental Digitalisation in the dental will benefit from outsourcing to a lab workflows, with labs able to provide profession and industry is an oft- with a printer because of the higher faster, more reliable and very precise discussed topic that most agree will speeds, accuracy and lower cost.” Rik end products with incredible efficiency. come to define dentistry in the near explained that 3D Systems primarily The future may not end up being future. Every dentist will be able to sell their printers and materials to labs, characterised by a deluge of sci-fi find a personal use for some piece but that dental practices interested robots and lasers, but there’s no doubt of digital technology, but the same in keeping some of their production that 3D printing will play an incredibly isn’t necessarily true of a 3D printer. in-house are increasingly purchasing important role in the increasingly 3D printing’s relationship to the 3D printers. digital profession of dentistry.

74 The Dentist July 2019