The global 3D printing dental market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.03% to $19.6 billion by 2032, according to the latest data from market research firm Market.US. Of this, the dentures market, being a significant component, is expected to expand significantly in the coming period. Based on this forecast, the 3D printed dentures market is likely to reach a size of $2 billion in the coming years.
Recently, 3D Systems, a globally recognized 3D printing company, announced that it successfully received 510(k) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its 3D printed denture solution, according to Resource Library. In fact, 3D Systems first introduced this solution back in February 2024, aiming to enable the production of fully 3D printed dentures.
This solution combines 3D Systems’ ProJet MJP multi-jet 3D printing platform with NextDent Jet Denture biocompatible materials developed specifically for dental applications to rapidly produce ergonomic denture products. It dramatically simplifies the denture manufacturing process, improves productivity, and ensures product accuracy and personalization.
Significant advantages of using 3D printing technology over traditional denture manufacturing include:
- Faster fabrication: While the traditional denture manufacturing process can take days or even weeks, 3D printing technology can be completed in a shorter period of time, drastically reducing the patient’s waiting time.
- Personalization: Based on a scan of a patient’s oral data, 3D printing technology can accurately design and print customized dentures that meet their needs, ensuring comfort and fit.
- Better material performance: 3D Systems offers biocompatible materials that not only ensure the safety and durability of dentures, but also meet the functional and aesthetic requirements of different patients.
- Cost-efficient: By digitizing production and optimizing processes, 3D printed denture solutions can reduce production costs and offer significant economic benefits.
Receiving FDA 510(k) approval means that this solution meets industry standards for safety and efficacy, allowing it to be legally marketed in the U.S. and used for clinical applications. This not only breathes new life into the global dental industry, but also expands the prospects for 3D printing technology in the field of restorative dentistry.
From braces to dentures, 3D Systems leads the way
The application of 3D printing technology in the field of dentistry has achieved numerous success stories, with invisible braces being a typical example of application. For example, well-known brands such as Invisalign, Times Angel and OrthoArt are using 3D printing technology to produce personalized invisible braces. Invisalign is the pioneer of invisible braces, pioneering this field.
In recent reports, we learned that 3D Systems has been awarded a contract worth nearly $250 million from Invisalign parent company Align to continue manufacturing clear aligners, one of the largest contracts in 3D Systems’ history, which runs through 2028. In addition, 3D Systems plans to launch direct printing for commercial clear aligners by the end of 2025, further advancing the iterative technology upgrade.
If the application of 3D printing in the field of dental braces has been very mature, and the main user groups in this market favor young people, then on the other hand, the field of dentures for the elderly market is still a blue ocean for the 3D printing industry. According to relevant data from the United Nations, the proportion of the global population aged 65 and above will be about 10.5% in 2024, and it is expected that this proportion will rise to 16% by 2050. Under this trend, the demand for dentures among the elderly is expected to show explosive growth.
In the 3D printing industry, as of today, 3D Systems is the only company to receive FDA approval for fully 3D printed one-piece dentures. As more and more dental practices around the world use digital imaging and personalized treatment plans, digital denture fabrication sets a new standard for providing patients with strong, precise dental prostheses that deliver visible and palpable, dramatic results. With the certification, 3D Systems will bring this innovative solution to market shortly.
According to Resource Library, Glidewell Dental Lab, one of the world’s largest suppliers of dental equipment, has adopted this new solution through a partnership with 3D Systems. As the first dental lab to be able to utilize 3D Systems’ new multi-material, single-piece jet denture workflow, Glidewell says it looks forward to providing even better denture solutions for its customers and their patients.
Will 3D printing be as disruptive to the denture market as invisible braces? That remains to be seen, but the companies pushing this technology forward are worth watching and learning from.
