Rapid prototyping in dentistry: technology and application

Medical imaging has been used to provide information for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The use of physical models provides added values in these applications. Rapid prototyping (RP) techniques have long been employed to build complex 3D models in medicine. However, publications regarding the dental application of RP technologies are still rare. This paper reviews and discusses the basics and applications of RP techniques in dentistry: (1) construction of a computer aided design (CAD) model, including data acquisition, data processing, and the corresponding machines and CAD packages, (2) typical RP systems and how to choose them, and (3) current and potential use of RP techniques in dentistry. Practical application examples of RP techniques in dentistry are provided.