Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 14, 2026
Design of an Open-Source, Low-Cost Bioink and Food Melt Extrusion 3D Printer
Published on: March 2, 2020
Novel Arch Bar Fabricated With a Computer-Aided Design and Three-Dimensional Printing: A Feasibility Study
Wei He1, Yuchun Sun2, Kaiyue Tian3
1Attending Physician, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
Purpose:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of the design and fabrication of a novel arch bar using 3-dimensional printing. Furthermore, the study assessed its use in a preliminary clinical study of intermaxillary fixation.
Patients And Methods:
Seven patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the present study. Plaster dental casts were created of each patient and scanned using cone-beam computed tomography to obtain digital casts. Computer-aided design software was then used to complete the virtual building of the arch bars, which were manufactured using 3-dimensional printing and a cobalt-chrome alloy. The clinical results were observed after the arch bars were fixed to the dentition with steel wires.
Results:
The arch bar contacted the dentition with a "surface-to-surface" pattern. The utility of these novel arch bars was verified by successfully fitting them to the dental arches of the patients. All the patients achieved their desired occlusion.
Conclusion:
The results of the present study have illustrated that this digital method is feasible for constructing a novel arch bar, showing promise for clinical use.
