3D Printing of custom Dental Shells with the long-term aim to prevent bacterial attachment and promote Enamel Regeneration

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Enamel is the most highly mineralised tooth tissue, showing hardness, whilst being fracture and wear resistant. However, the regular intake of acidic food and drinks as well as mechanical abrasion destruct the enamel's mineral matrix permanently. In the past, numerous studies have attempted to synthetically produce mammal enamel. A major challenge in enamel regeneration is to mimic the hierarchical structure of natural enamel.In this study, a 3D printed individualised tooth shell, which eventually shall resist bacterial attachment and internalise enamel regeneration mediating minerals, is being developed. The tooth shell's geometry is derived from a 3D model of an incisor tooth and manufactured using SLA (Stereolithography). AM (Additive Manufacturing) processes such as SLA, Ink Jet Printing, Two-Photon Polymerization, etc. allow tight control over printed (nano) structures and enable a high degree of individualisation, which is of paramount importance in healthcare applications.