3D PRINTING - AN ALTERNATIVE OF CONVENTIONAL CROWN FABRICATION: A CASE REPORT

The present paper is a case report of prosthetic treatment built upon 3D technologies for manufacturing of dental restorations. The case shows laboratory protocol of 3D printed full coverage provisional crowns and cast patterns for press ceramic crowns for a patient with need of replacement of the old prosthetic constructions of his upper left first and second molars. The working process is presented in details at each step, starting with the impression scanning into the 3 Shape D750 laboratory scanner, throughout the virtual constructing (CAD) and the result -additive manufacturing of models, patterns for press ceramic crowns as well as provisional crowns in the 3D printing machine Rapidshape D30. One of the most frequently applied additive technology in the dental field-the stereolithographic approach, is compared to conventional crown fabrication. Thus it appears to be clear that advantages of 3D printing are much more. Among most important are: time saving, precise accuracy and fitting of the constructions, no risk of distortions and laboratory mistakes, production of complex shapes with no need of special tools or gypsum working models with removable dies, almost no waste material, etc.