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STRATEGY Multicolor 3D printing The Planmeca ProModel service employs a ZPrinter ® 450 multicolor 3D printer from Z Corporation of Burlington, Mass., USA, to produce the models. The process starts in the dental office or hospital. Doctors X-ray the patient, typically with a Planmeca ProMax 3D machine, then use an electronic form in Planmeca Romexis imaging software to send the data electronically to Planmeca headquarters in Helsinki. Planmeca ProModel professionals then use Z Corporation’s ZEdit ™ Pro software to apply colors and labels to print the anatomy. In addition to skulls, jaws and teeth, the Planmeca ProModel service depicts tumors and existing dental hardware, such as implant screws and reconstruction plates. Multicolor 3D printing capability enables Planmeca to spotlight critical areas and to annotate models with text labels. Many models call out the sensitive mandibular nerve in color. Planmeca ProModel requires no additional effort or Beyond the X-ray: ZPrinted 3D models improve surgical results for customers of Planmeca Oy An X-ray tells doctors a lot about a patient’s anatomy. But surgery takes place in three dimensions, and an X-ray is ultimately nothing more than a picture. Surgeons would benefit significantly from tangible physical models of patients’ bones, precisely rendered in real size. Three-dimensional printing technology is now providing such models on demand from 3D X-ray data, enabling maxillofacial surgeons to better plan their operations, shorten procedure time, lower costs, and, most importantly, improve results. CHALLENGE Getting better surgical outcomes The models come from Planmeca Oy of Finland, the largest privately-owned, high-tech dental equipment maker. The company manufactures most everything one might encounter in a dental office, including specialized dental units, their attachments, X-ray machines, and software for running an entire practice. The company recently saw the opportunity to maximize the value of the 3D data its X-ray machines produce. The data, they knew, could form the basis of 3D physical models created in a few short hours with three-dimensional printing. 3D printing is the automatic, layer-by-layer construction of a physical model from 3D data. It works much as document printing produces a business letter line by line from word-processing data. “X-rays provide a lot of critical information, but for complex procedures, a 3D physical model can make a world of difference,” said Jukka Kanerva, product manager for Planmeca Oy. “As the surgeon can familiarize themselves with the anatomy beforehand, the patients spend less time under anesthesia, less time with open tissue, less time in the hospital afterward, and less time undergoing remedial procedures.” Planmeca www.planmeca.com Planmeca Oy – world’s largest privately-owned, high-tech dental equipment manufacturer. Challenge • Using 3D X-ray data to significantly improve outcomes of maxillofacial surgery. Strategy • Patients spend a day or two less in the hospital. • Surgeons complete procedures one to two hours sooner. • Operations cost 10 percent less than before. • Plates, appliances, drill guides and other devices fit nearly perfectly. • Doctors can more easily explain cases to patients and peers. • Doctors can practice procedures before they see the patient, thereby improving outcomes.
