3D Printing Approach in Dentistry: The Future for Personalized Oral Soft Tissue Regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Dental Technology

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) printing enables customized object creation using chosen materials, CAD, and precise manufacturing.
• Digital technology, smart biomaterials, and cell culturing advance patient-tailored treatments.
• The dental "digital workflow" utilizes 3D printing for surgical guides, models, and reconstructions, but oral soft tissue applications are unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of 3D printing technology and its regenerative medicine applications.
• To describe 3D printing in dentistry for surgical guides, models, and periodontal tissue reconstruction.
• To outline suitable biomaterials for oral soft tissue printing and discuss current treatment limitations.

Main Methods:

• Scoping literature review.
• Analysis of 3D printing applications in regenerative medicine and dentistry.
• Review of biomaterials and tissue engineering approaches for oral soft tissues.

Main Results:

• 3D printing is established for dental guides, models, and periodontal reconstructions.
• Biomaterials for oral soft tissue printing are identified.
• Current limitations in oral soft tissue regeneration include "off-the-shelf" products and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF).

Conclusions:

• Tissue-engineered gingival equivalents are foundational for future 3D-printed oral soft tissue constructs.
• Existing knowledge can be leveraged to create patient-tailored 3D-printed oral soft tissue grafts.
• Future applications aim for functional and aesthetically pleasing outcomes in oral soft tissue regeneration.