U.S. Orthodontic Practice Turns to EnvisionTEC to Provide Cutting Edge Patient Treatments

Dutchess Orthodontics is a friendly, patient centric orthodontic practice based in Hopewell Junction, New York. The practice serves a large cross section of patients with ages ranging from five to those in their 80’s.

Dutchess Orthodontics provides an array of treatments including early growth modification such as expanders, aligners and myofunctional therapy (therapy for the lips and tongue) to help faces and jaws grow properly in children. As patients get older Dutchess Orthodontics provides braces for straightening and improving smile aesthetics and Invisalign® aligners to help give a more aesthetic smile and correct issues.

The team aims to ensure that every patient is happy with the outcome and that treatments benefit their lives.

Why 3D printing?

To provide the best possible treatments for its patients, Dutchess Orthodontics monitors the industry for advancements and invests in the latest technology. One technological advancement is the increased use of 3D printing and digital work flows. This technology is making huge waves in both dental and orthodontic industries.

3D scanning and printing (CAD/CAM) technology is not only helping to reduce stress for patients through less invasive procedures, but is also leading to faster treatments and turnaround. The technology is also producing better results, better fitting appliances at reduced costs to both the practice and the patient.

For the team at Dutchess Orthodontics the implementation of 3D printing was the way to go.

In recent years intra oral scanners have become more accurate, much faster and more user friendly. Older techniques such as taking alginate impressions then manually producing models from stone or even the taking of alginate impressions and scanning them, provided many opportunities for inaccuracy through shrinkage and distortion.

This appliance accuracy was a concern of the team. They were interested in implementing 3D printing but ideally wanted to do this in-house to allow them to monitor the process and ensure accuracy of the finished orthodontic appliances.

Why EnvisionTEC?

Dr. Walters and her team were looking for a printer that would be easy to use and set up, integrate with the existing intra oral scanner and provide fast accurate prints. Dr. Walters had come into contact with a number of 3D printer manufacturers but was aware of the reputation of the EnvisionTEC brand.

“At the American Association of Orthodontics they have a really big meeting every year, and they display all the latest printers, all that we have available to us. I was going back and forth between several printer manufacturers but I had a friend who used an EnvisionTEC Perfactory Vida and swore by it.” – Dr. Kelly Walters, Owner of Dutchess Orthodontics

EnvisionTEC is the market leader in 3D printed dental and orthodontic solutions. With years invested in the development of 3D printers and materials for those specific industries, the company now boasts a huge selection of both CE and FDA approved resins for use directly in the mouth. The materials are proven and in use by hundreds of dental and orthodontic professionals around the world.

After taking the advice and comparing the prints and options from a number of competitive brands she recognized both the accuracy and the speed of EnvisionTEC printers and was pleasantly surprised at the cost of the machines and materials.

The materials themselves were attractive, with a large number being biocompatible and useful for a cross section of dental and orthodontic applications. While the initial use of the technology within the practice would be for the production of arch models for vacuum formed retainers, this choice would give the practice the ability to move into the production of other appliances quickly and easily.

Ultimately after considering the options, Dutchess Orthodontics settled on an EnvisionTEC Vida with E-Model material. This printer and material combination would allow them the ability to quickly produce accurate dental arch models.

The Results

The implementation of the EnvisionTEC printer in the practice has improved efficiency, reduced costs, reduced waste and resulted in better results for patients. The E-Model material has proved a good upgrade from the traditional models. The team finds it much stronger, more durable and experience less breakage than with stone models.

Patients are already benefiting from the less intrusive process and the increased speed, allowing them to have retainers measured and fitted in only a few days or less. The retainers are more accurate resulting in better results for the patient, better fit and comfort.

Though initially the Vida is being used for retainer models, the team are aware of the flexibility open to them by using EnvisionTEC technology. They know that when they want to move into the production of other orthodontic applications the machine will allow them to quickly and simply change materials.