Development of a liquid dental light-curing acrylic resin for 3D/DLP printing

Abstract

The 3D printing technology attached with the CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Manufacturing) works as a strategic area with a high development and innovation potential. Described as an additive technique, the market for 3D printing has great projections for raising their investments and efforts on a desirable work that might lead into a broader application of the technology. Among the different sectors involved into this type of technological business, we place the dental market. Nowadays, the application of the 3D printing technique in processing dental prosthesis is a reality, already. Focusing on strengthening this development, this project has a main objective of developing a liquid light curable resin for 3D/DLP (Digital Light Processing) of surgical guides and occlusal splints. Surgical guides offer support and are well desirable by professionals of the dental area because they provide confidence and precision during the critical surgery process, as well as helping for a previous visualization of the procedure. So far, Smart Dent held research and development in the area founded by a RHAE - CNPq project in order to develop a provisional prosthesis resin, and, therefore, investigating the viability of this project. Kinetics and mechanical data were performed for some formulations in order to provide enough study for a goal with this new product formulation described in the project. With a financial movement of almost 760 million dollars (APDESP data) in prosthesis, the insertion of a national product, with reduced cost and appreciated quality, with the main purpose will reach a great innovative collaboration to stablish the 3D printing as a reference method for dental prosthesis and surgical support. So that, some challenges and barriers might be overcame to accomplish this step. Selecting the right monomers, the most effective photo-initiator system and the most suitable UV blocker, considering all the mechanicals and chemicals properties acceptable by the regulatory affair needs to be fulfilled and have their behavior analyzed to guarantee the success of the project on its conclusion. (AU)