After making an impact in the dental lab space for a number of years, Formlabs has now launched a new dental business unit, Formlabs Dental. With the creation of the new business unit, Formlabs intends to make a splash in the growing 3D market for dental practices and the opportunities that are to come for the technology in the next decade.
Formlabs will work with distributors such as Henry Schein and Benco in the U.S. but will also have a direct arm for a "hybrid approach," Sam Wainwright, the dental product manager for Formlabs, told DrBicuspid.com.
The newly released Form 3B printer and platform will contain a "next generation" of dental materials, dedicated service team, and software to help streamline workflows, according to the company.
The new Form 3B printer. Image courtesy of Formlabs."Dental is really unique in 3D printing because it's not an option any more. It's going to become a necessity for dentistry," Wainwright said. "It already is in many ways a critical part of the digital workflow. It's going to become bigger as direct-use products become better and more come out to market."
He expects 3D printing to become the dominant way of making dental items over the next decade, he add. "3D printing is a means to manufacture and bring digital products to reality," he said.
Formlabs has seven dental materials that are available to be used on the new Form 3B printer, including in-house developed biocompatible surgical guide resin. In addition, Formlabs is now offering four new shades in the dentures material library. The company also reportedly continues to improve and launch new print settings for its legacy Dental SG and Dental LT materials.
The dental applications for the new Form 3B printer include crown and bridge models, clear-aligner and retainer models, diagnostic models, surgical guides, occlusal splints, and patterns for casting and pressing dentures with four base and six tooth shades.
Wainwright will be moderating a product demonstration for the Form 3B printer in a live webinar on Tuesday, November 19, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. You can register for the demonstration and get more information on the product and the company on the Formlabs website.
