What if you could live in a world where all your patients’ teeth could be aligned beautifully in-house and without lab fees? Imagine all the stunning smiles, happy patients, and robust business growth! This dream can be a reality for you with Structo® 3D Printers.
The fundamental philosophy at Structo is to empower the industry with their high throughput dental 3D printers to encourage the widespread adoption of digital dentistry. Structo’s high throughput printers allows dental professionals to bring down the overall cost of appliances such as clear aligners, increasing global access to care. At StraightSmile Solutions®, we support access to care to help create more healthy and happy smiles around the world.
As the original Dental Director of SmileDirectClub® and now the founder of StraightSmile Solutions®, I’ve seen a lot of aligner treatment plans. Invisalign® technology is not required for an ideal outcome in all cases. The vast majority of cases can be treated either without attachments or with an off-label aligner company. You don’t need G5 or G6 technology for the average case. The price point of 3D printers and treatment-planning software has come down significantly in the past few years. It’s now affordable for most Dentists and Orthodontists to own their own 3D printer and make aligners in-house for the majority of their cases. Not sure if this would work for you? Check out this Structo® ROI calculator: http://home.structo3d.com/roi-calculator.
If you think it sounds confusing, you don’t need to worry. You probably already have a lot of systems purchased and streamlined in your office like a 3D scanner and a thermoforming machine. Using a 3D printer is similar process flow. Visit this step-by-step guide here to learn how: http://blog.structo3d.com/part-2-5-things-you-need-to-start-a-clear-aligner-business.
STEP 1: First, you need to buy a scanner. This is a simple step that you’ve probably already completed. If you still have questions, check out my blog about purchasing a scanner here: https://www.straightsmilesolutions.com/blog/four-important-questions-to-ask-before-buying-a-dental-scanner/.
STEP 2: You can buy your own treatment planning software, or you can simply outsource for this service. Structo’s® printers are compatible with any variety of software that exports in STL format, like 3Shape® and Sirona®. You can also partner with a company like eXceed®, which will do the set up for you for a small fee of $175-$245: http://exceed-ortho.com/getting-started/.
STEP 3: After designing your treatment plan for your patient, you will need to translate that digital file into a series of steps in the form of models using a MSLA 3D printer. Structo’s® Ortho Form is the world’s fastest Orthodontic 3D printer. To learn more about MSLA 3D Printing, click here: http://www.structo3d.com/technology/.
STEP 4: Just like 3D printers, thermoforming machines come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. A good thermoforming machine will deliver aligners that are the perfect negative of the model used. You also want to make sure your thermoforming system is compatible with your 3D printer.
STEP 5: I always recommend that General and Pediatric Dentists have an Orthodontic Coach to help guide them through case selection and some of the obstacles they may encounter throughout the duration of the treatment. StraightSmile Solutions® is the first online portal to provide a customized orthodontic coaching solution for every practice. Visit www.straightsmilesolutions.com to get started.
If you want to learn more about becoming a Structo® Provider, you can contact their team atwww.structo3d.com/contact. A representative will help you install the machine, train your team, and guide you through all the steps. Don’t hesitate to contact StraightSmile Solutions® with any questions.