With the continuous advancement of digital technology in the field of dentistry, traditional dental wax-up methods are undergoing revolutionary changes. Digital wax-ups have become an important tool in dental restoration. Compared to traditional hand-carved wax-ups, digital wax-ups, with their high precision, high efficiency, and pre-design advantages, are transforming the treatment experiences of both patients and dentists. Today, let's delve into the production process of digital wax-ups and how they help enhance dental treatment outcomes.
The first step in creating a digital wax-up is to gather oral and appearance data of the patient.
Oral data: Typically, an intraoral scanner is used to capture 3D digital data of the inside of the mouth, including the lower jaw, upper jaw, and occlusal relationships.
Appearance data: Taken using a digital camera or smartphone, or captured via a facial scanner to obtain 3D data of the face.
The dentist imports the scanned models of the lower jaw, upper jaw, and occlusal relationship into dental CAD software. The occlusal relationship is then restored in the software environment. According to photos or facial scan data, facial features are aligned with the dental model, which is then placed on a virtual articulator. This allows for the alignment of the patient's smile over the dental model in three dimensions. This analysis helps plan the treatment, modify the digital dental model, and generate the target data for the digital wax-up.
After designing the 3D data for the digital wax-up, it needs further processing to meet the requirements for 3D printing. This includes dental model data processing and digital wax-up data processing. The dental model processing includes edge trimming, adding a base, and converting scanner mesh data into a 3D printable closed model. To save resin, the dental model can also be hollowed out or filled with a lattice structure.
Once all design and data processing are complete, the next step is to upload this data to the 3D printer. The printing process of the digital wax-up involves several key steps, including data slicing, orientation rotation, and adding supports. In slicing software, the layout of the dental model and digital wax-up is optimized according to printing requirements to ensure accuracy and speed.
For digital wax-ups, to ensure precision and fit, support structures must be added during the printing process. These supports ensure the wax-up's stability during printing. Through the precise operations of a 3D printer, the wax-up is printed layer by layer, resulting in a high-precision physical entity.
After 3D printing is complete, the digital wax-up still requires post-processing. First, the support structures need to be removed, followed by appropriate polishing to make the surface smooth and delicate. Next, the model needs to be cleaned and post-cured to ensure durability and precision. These post-processing steps further enhance the intricacy of the digital wax-up, ensuring a perfect presentation in clinical applications.
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