Comment on Surgery free, 3D printed implantsparentComments−candiodari9ySince you don't get a mold beforehand I'm guessing this is 3d printed. How do you get the 3d image of the tooth ?−fractallyte9yYes, the title is slightly incorrect, there's no 3D printing involved.The implant is milled from a 3D scan of the extracted tooth. It's very much an artisan process, which we're hoping to make entirely digital.−kwhitefoot9yThere are fully automatic machines for making crowns (I have two made on such a machine), surely the process should be much the same.−fractallyte9yA crown is just the external part of the tooth. That's relatively easy to scan and reproduce. It's much more difficult to scan the root while it's 'in situ' in the jaw. Hence the careful extraction...−justinclift9yX-ray → CAD model → CNC machine?−fractallyte9yThat's pretty much the idea!A fully digital process would allow this treatment to be offered by any dentist, anywhere in the world (with a good internet connection, of course).−toomuchtodo9yCould I have the X-ray taken in the US, digitally sent to your lab, and then show up at your lab with the new implant waiting? (Hypothetically)−fractallyte9yNot yet...With the right investor(s), that 'hypothetical' will change into an affirmative. (And you'd only have to travel to your local dentist.)−toomuchtodo9yNo worries, I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.
Comments
Since you don't get a mold beforehand I'm guessing this is 3d printed. How do you get the 3d image of the tooth ?
Yes, the title is slightly incorrect, there's no 3D printing involved.
The implant is milled from a 3D scan of the extracted tooth. It's very much an artisan process, which we're hoping to make entirely digital.
There are fully automatic machines for making crowns (I have two made on such a machine), surely the process should be much the same.
A crown is just the external part of the tooth. That's relatively easy to scan and reproduce. It's much more difficult to scan the root while it's 'in situ' in the jaw. Hence the careful extraction...
X-ray → CAD model → CNC machine?
That's pretty much the idea!
A fully digital process would allow this treatment to be offered by any dentist, anywhere in the world (with a good internet connection, of course).
Could I have the X-ray taken in the US, digitally sent to your lab, and then show up at your lab with the new implant waiting? (Hypothetically)
Not yet...
With the right investor(s), that 'hypothetical' will change into an affirmative. (And you'd only have to travel to your local dentist.)
No worries, I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.