3D Printing at the Dentist: Common Questions Answered

Patients are curious about the printer humming away in our South Surrey office. Here are the questions we hear most often.

Is dental 3D printing safe?

Yes. The resins we use for models, guides, and appliances are designed for dental use and go through a wash and light cure that sets them to their final, stable form before anything is used in your mouth.

How accurate is a 3D printed dental model?

Very. The scan captures your teeth in fine detail, and the printer builds the model in thin layers — usually around 50 microns, thinner than a human hair. We inspect every print before it's used.

Does 3D printing cost more than traditional methods?

Not usually. For things like night guards or surgical guides, printing is often faster and reduces the number of visits, so the overall cost is similar or lower. We only recommend it when it genuinely helps your treatment.

Can you 3D print a crown?

We don't print final crowns — those are milled from ceramic. But we do print models, temporaries, and guides that support crown and implant work.

How long does a print take?

A typical dental model takes 30–90 minutes to print, plus washing and curing. Same-day turnaround is often possible.

Will I still need a goopy impression?

No. We use a digital scanner instead of impression trays for anything that will be printed.

Want to know if 3D printing fits into your care? See our dental technologies or call 604-535-8835.