Dimensional accuracy of a binder jet model produced from computerized tomography data for dental implants

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Radiology
• Dental Technology

Background:

• Accurate presurgical planning is crucial for successful dental implant treatment.
• Traditional methods for creating surgical guides can be time-consuming and may lack precision.
• Advancements in 3D imaging and printing offer potential for improved patient-specific surgical solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the accuracy of full-scale dental models produced via multislice helical computerized tomography (CT) and binder jet printing.
• To evaluate the impact of varying binary threshold values on model accuracy.
• To determine the potential clinical applicability of these models in dental implantology.

Main Methods:

• A step phantom made of bone-equivalent material was scanned using multislice helical CT.
• Three-dimensional (3-D) images were reconstructed using specialized visualization software.
• Full-scale models were fabricated using the binder jet method with plaster powder at four different threshold values.
• The dimensional accuracy of the printed models was compared to the original phantom.

Main Results:

• The accuracy of the full-scale models was evaluated by adjusting binary threshold values.
• A mean difference of approximately 0.1 mm was observed in the axial plane with a threshold setting of 0.75.
• A mean difference of approximately 0.2 mm was noted overall with a threshold setting of 0.50.
• These results indicate high fidelity between the CT data and the physical models.

Conclusions:

• Full-scale models produced by binder jet printing from CT data demonstrate significant accuracy for dental applications.
• The developed method shows promise for presurgical diagnosis and surgical simulation in dental implant treatment.
• These accurate models can be utilized for the precise production of patient-specific surgical templates, enhancing implant placement outcomes.