BMF announces ultra-thin custom additively manufactured cosmetic dental veneers
Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts, USA, has announced its entry into the dental market with the launch of UltraThineer, additively manufactured zirconia-based dental veneers developed in collaboration with Peking University, Beijing, China.
Currently, dental veneers are manufactured with a thickness of around 0.5 mm or more. This requires extensive preparation of the existing teeth, which is highly invasive, uncomfortable, and irreversible for patients. However, for aesthetic restoration, the ultra-thin veneers require little to no tooth preparation, preserving as much enamel as possible and enabling dentists to align, reshape, or brighten teeth using a simple, painless, and minimally invasive procedure.
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The UltraThineers are custom-manufactured using a projection micro stereolithography (PµSL), a vat photopolymerisation (VPP) Additive Manufacturing technology, which results in them being three times thinner than traditional veneers (80 µm vs 400 µm).
“The ultra-thin and strong 3D printed zirconia veneer technology can quickly and painlessly strengthen and protect the surface of teeth, prevent cold acid stimulation and wear, and significantly improve appearance. More importantly, compared to conventional ceramic veneer technology, the entire process of tooth reduction is eliminated,” stated Professor Sun Yuchun, Peking University School of Stomatology.
UltraThineer veneers are expected to be available in the US in the spring of 2024, pending review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Commenting on the news, Jessica Love from Capture Dental Arts, a US provider of cosmetic dental service, added “The ability to print ceramics at minimal thickness will be revolutionary. Our current processes for producing minimal prep veneers can be labour-intensive when compared to milled, full coverage crowns in zirconia. Conservative reduction of the patient’s enamel should be practiced whenever possible. I’m looking forward to the start of this new technology, allowing intricate, ultra-thin veneers to be printed. BMF’s advancements and innovation will continue to push the boundaries of dentistry and inspire innovation worldwide.”
