3D Printed Crowns

Recently 3D printed crowns were approved for patient use. Using our normal crown designing software with a 3D printer, we can fabricate a “porcelain” crown from 3D print resin. This is considered a porcelain crown by the ADA because over 50% of the crown resin is porcelain. How does this compare to a milled crown that we currently do in office? The printed crown is not as hard as a milled crown.  This can be great for a crown that opposes natural teeth, where the natural teeth may wear down over time. Of course each crown has its best application.