EOS at IDS 2013: Economic, precise and digital Additive Manufacturing (AM) of removable partial dentures (RPD)

EOS, the technology and market leader for design-driven, integrated solutions for additive manufacturing, is exhibiting at the 35th International Dental Show (IDS), the world’s leading fair for the dental industry. During March 12 to 16, EOS is showcasing its dental solutions in Cologne in Hall 4.1, booth F050 and introduces its new removable partial denture (RPD) solution. Martin Bullemer, Business Development Manager Medical at EOS, adds: “A dental laboratory using the EOS AM method for the manufacturing of removable partial dentures will gain a competitive edge compared to a conventional approach. The time-saving design approach offers a more precise manufacturing process and this economic and certified process chain uses a material exclusively developed for this application. As such, RPDs can be manufactured at comparatively low costs.”

If several teeth are missing, a removable dental prosthesis is the most economical solution for the patient. For the dental laboratory, on the other hand, the conventional manufacture of a model cast prostheses means a lot of work. The preparation of the cast model and the wax modelling based on this often takes more than one hour and the complete casting procedure including finishing is laborious and time-consuming. The digital production method, alternatively, saves a lot of time: the design for the removable partial denture is ready in around 15 minutes with only a few mouse clicks. Thanks to the Direct Metal Laser-Sintering (DMLS) process, the manufacturing technique is not limited by the design technique. Instead, the freedom of design of the modelling software can be used to full capacity and further implemented for manufacturing. As a result, high-strength, rigid and filigree geometries can be produced and casting errors can be eliminated.

The production of RPD’s via DMLS enables accuracy and therefore makes laboratory work easier. The removable partial denture that is produced has an accuracy of +/- 20 µm and is of a consistently high quality. The method is at the same time economical too. Around 48 units can be produced within 24 hours. This corresponds to an average building time of around 30 minutes per unit.

Removable partial dentures are made with the EOSINT M 270 from EOS, which is already established on the market. The CE-certified EOS CobaltChrome (CE 0537) is used as a material for the manufacturing of RPDs.

The material properties are perfectly suited for this dental application. Density, resilience and elongation at break are well matched with the requirements of dental applications. For the AM process, the fine powder particles produce a fine-grain structure. Compared to the cast structure the removable partial dentures produced with the aid of computers have a higher strength than a conventional model cast and both the fatigue resistances as well as the risk of a clamp breakage are lower. The AM dental restorations possess consistent tolerances and reproducible properties, have a very high precision level, enable a good fitting and a constant part quality. The high level of detail supports the reproduction of pitted structures. Manufacturing parameters are being documented, and part production monitored. Both the material and the machine come from EOS and satisfy the high quality standards that apply for medical products. The finished products comply with the relevant standards EN 1641 as well as EN ISO 22674.