Stratasys Ltd. and 3Shape, a provider of digital solutions for dental specialists, have announced the launch of a new automated 3D printing digital colour workflow utilising 3Shape’s Dental System software and the Stratasys J5 DentaJet 3D printer. Dental labs can capture both colour and geometric information about a patient’s mouth using an intraoral scanner and 3Shape software. The data can then be imported into Stratasys’ 3D printer, which can then print extremely accurate personalised full-color dental models.
“In dentistry, detailed attention to aesthetics is critical, but accurately matching tooth colour in particular is tricky and time-consuming. For the first time, we’re automating that entire workflow for customers using 3Shape and the J5 DentaJet printer. Dental labs will be able to easily harness the full capabilities of the only dental printer able to create highly realistic replicas of the patient’s mouth from a TRIOS scan.”
– Rune Fisker, 3Shape Senior Vice President for Product Strategy
J5 DentaJet 3D Printer – Digital Colour Workflow
The J5 DentaJet 3D printer allows dental professionals to scale production by printing large mixed batches of dental parts at the same time on the same tray, including implant models, surgical guides, and gingiva masks. PolyJet™ technology ensures geometric accuracy and precision for these printed dental applications, and it is well-known for its full-colour printing capabilities, which include realistic monolithic full-colour dental parts.
Users can fully leverage these combined capabilities thanks to 3Shape’s innovative new digital workflow. The 3Shape Dental System provides best-in-class workflow and a seamless connection between dental practises and dental laboratories. The most recent software version 2022.1 includes support for the open 3MF file standard, allowing for the capture of both geometry and colour information from intraoral scans.
“The darker colour of a tooth stump and the translucency of a crown make colour matching with the rest of a patient’s teeth a real challenge. Adding 3MF support into 3Shape Dental System lets our customer harness the colour capabilities of Stratasys PolyJet 3D printers to easily match a restoration’s true colour. This new turnkey colour workflow is an important step in expanding the colour applications available on the J5 DentaJet platform.”
– Ron Ellenbogen, Stratasys Director of Dental Products
The 3MF Consortium, of which Stratasys is a founding member, publishes an increasingly popular open-source file format known as 3MF. The format improves workflow by containing all model information in a single package, including voxel-level control of the model’s interior and metadata. Stratasys is the only company offering a PANTONE-Validated™ full-colour, multi-material 3D printer that can fully utilise the capabilities of the 3MF format.
About 3Shape: 3Shape was founded in 2000 by two people determined to unlock opportunities in 3D digital technology. Today, 3Shape drives progress in digital dentistry with ground-breaking, industry-recognised scanners for clinics and labs. And connect dentists and technicians with software workflows that just flow.
About Stratasys: With innovative 3D printing solutions for industries such as aerospace, automotive, consumer products, and healthcare, Stratasys is leading the global shift to additive manufacturing. Stratasys solutions provide competitive advantages at every stage of the product value chain through smart and connected 3D printers, polymer materials, a software ecosystem, and parts on demand. Stratasys is trusted by the world’s leading organisations to transform product design, increase agility in manufacturing and supply chains, and improve patient care.
