In-house 3D printing has moved from a competitive advantage to a practical necessity for dental labs looking to stay relevant in an increasingly digital industry. The ability to produce models, surgical guides, temporaries, and other restorative components quickly and accurately without outsourcing is reshaping how labs operate and how they serve the dentists they work with.
AmericaSmiles offers two distinct 3D printing solutions designed to meet different needs and budgets. Here is a closer look at both and how to determine which one is right for your lab.
EPAX DX10-16KW Pro: High-Volume Model Production at an Accessible Price
Released in 2025, the EPAX DX10-16KW Pro is a large-format dental 3D printer built for speed, precision, and cost-effective production. Powered by the latest 16K LCD technology, it delivers 19-micron XY resolution, making it one of the most precise options available in the dental 3D printing market today.
The numbers speak for themselves. The DX10 Pro can print over 100 dental models in an eight-hour day and is capable of producing eight full dental models flat on the build plate in just 40 minutes. For labs handling high patient traffic or looking to offer same-day model production to their dentist clients, that output capacity is a significant operational advantage.
What makes the DX10 Pro particularly compelling is its value proposition. It offers 50 percent more build volume than many competing dental printers at roughly one third of the cost. The all-metal build quality, heated chamber for consistent resin temperature throughout the print process, and open resin system compatible with a wide range of 405nm resins, including NextDent, KeyStone, WhipMix, and many others, make it one of the most flexible and durable printers in its class.
Key specs include a build volume of 221mm x 118mm x 120mm, a 10.1-inch 16K mono screen, a 4.2-inch full-color recessed LED touchscreen, force detection, and connectivity via Ethernet, USB, and WiFi. It is compatible with all intraoral scanners using standard STL or OBJ file formats and comes with free lifetime support.
For labs looking to bring high-volume model production in-house without a significant capital investment, the EPAX DX10-16KW Pro is one of the strongest options available through AmericaSmiles.
NextDent 5100: The Complete Clinical Production System
Where the EPAX DX10 Pro excels at volume and value, the NextDent 5100 is built for comprehensive clinical production across the full range of dental applications. Powered by Figure 4 technology from 3D Systems, the NextDent 5100 delivers high-speed, high-accuracy printing for trays, orthodontic and prosthodontic models, surgical guides, dentures, splints, crowns, and bridges.
The Figure 4 non-contact membrane technology at the heart of the NextDent 5100 is what sets it apart from conventional LCD and DLP printers. It produces consistently accurate results with minimal human intervention, and the workflow is designed to be as efficient as possible. Resin trays swap out quickly, print platforms remove with one hand, and the touchscreen interface works with gloves for a seamless production experience.
What truly distinguishes the NextDent 5100 is its materials ecosystem. It is compatible with 30 unique NextDent biocompatible materials, the largest portfolio available from any single dental materials supplier. All materials are CE-certified, FDA listed, and compliant with international medical device regulations. They are available in a range of aesthetic colors designed to closely match patients’ teeth and gums, giving labs the flexibility to produce restorations that look natural right out of the printer.
The NextDent 5100 also integrates seamlessly with industry-standard intraoral scanning and software solutions and pairs with the NextDent LC-3DMixer for optimal material preparation and the NextDent LC-3DPrint Box for UV post-curing, creating a trusted end-to-end workflow backed by 30 years of 3D Systems expertise.
For labs looking for a complete, certified, and highly capable production system with a materials portfolio that covers virtually every clinical application, the NextDent 5100 is the premium choice.
Which Printer Is Right for Your Lab?
The answer depends on what your lab needs most right now.
If your primary goal is to bring model production in-house at high volume and low cost, and you want the flexibility of an open resin system, the EPAX DX10-16KW Pro is an exceptional value that will pay for itself quickly.
If your lab is looking for a comprehensive clinical production platform with a fully certified materials ecosystem, built-in regulatory compliance, and the ability to produce a wide range of definitive and semi-definitive restorations, the NextDent 5100 is the right investment.
Many labs find that both printers serve complementary roles within the same workflow, using the EPAX DX10 for high-volume model output and the NextDent 5100 for clinical-grade restorative production.
Reach out to the AmericaSmiles team to discuss which solution fits your lab’s current needs and long-term goals. We are here to help you make the right decision and get the most out of your investment from day one.
