Formlabs’ PreForm software now features Scan to Model, which converts intraoral scans into 3D printable models. According to the company, dental and orthodontic professionals can use Scan to Model as an entry point into digital workflows without having any prior experience with digital dental design software.
Creating diagnostic, formed appliance, and fit check models is simple, Formlabs said. Users scan a patient’s teeth with a 3D intraoral scanner, upload the raw model into PreForm’s Scan to Model tool, and then print with a Formlabs Form 3B printer, all in less than an hour, the company said.
The dental industry is rapidly evolving from manual processes to digital, though this shift can be daunting for many practices, Formlabs said. While more than 30% of orthodontists have an intraoral scanner, the company continued, only 4% have 3D printing capabilities at their practice, the company said.
The desire to adopt the technology is apparent, Formlabs continued, though cost and training are large hurdles associated with fulfilling the need. Formlabs Dental, first launched as a dedicated business unit in November 2019, aims to make flexible and patient-specific treatment protocols accessible to every dental professional.
“Getting started in digital dentistry couldn’t be easier with the Formlabs Dental Ecosystem. The Scan to Model software feature does all the work, converting intraoral 3D scan files into printable dental models so it’s simple for providers to bring digital model production in house,” said Sam Wainwright, dental products manager at Formlabs.
“This new software feature, our printers, and dental resins of the Formlabs Dental Ecosystem support dentistry’s transformation, enabling both newcomers and experienced professionals to add digital workflows,” Wainwright said.
Before Scan to Model, technicians who completed 3D scans of patients’ teeth using an intraoral scanner would have to be well versed in complex dental CAD software, use open-source mesh editors not designed for the needs of dental professionals, or outsource this processing to a dental lab, Formlabs said. Now, the company added, Scan to Model enables dentists to reduce:
- Effort required to turn a 3D intraoral scan into a simple printed model
- Overall turnaround time for models and retainers, enabling same-day delivery
- Number of software programs required to perform simple model preparation
“Scan to Model is more advanced than an open-source mesh editor and faster than going through a comprehensive dental design program. My staff and I started using it immediately with no issues. It’s a great entry point for doctors who are interested in digital,” said James E. Paschal, DMD, MS, a Formlabs dental customer.
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