In recent years, 3D printing has gone from a niche innovation to a mainstream tool in dental lab workflows. But as a lab owner, you might be asking yourself a very practical question: “Do I really need a 3D printer in-house?” The answer depends on your lab’s current workload, your goals, and how much you want to streamline and grow. Let’s break it down.
Why Labs Are Turning to 3D Printing
The adoption of in-house 3D printing in dental labs is being driven by three core benefits: speed, flexibility, and profitability.
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Faster Turnaround: Printing models, nightguards, or dentures in-house means you’re no longer waiting on third-party providers. This gives you full control over production time and quality.
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Lower Costs: Once you’ve made the initial investment, printing is often more cost-effective than outsourcing—especially for high-volume items like models or splints.
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Improved Customization: You can test new designs, adjust fit, and produce multiple versions of a restoration with ease.
Common 3D Printing Applications in Dental Labs
Not sure what you’d use a 3D printer for? Here are the most common lab applications:
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Printed Models: Whether you’re producing aligner models, surgical guides, or diagnostic casts, 3D printed models are now the industry standard.
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Nightguards: Digital design and print workflows drastically reduce production time compared to traditional methods.
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Printed Dentures: Labs are now printing full dentures and bases with materials that offer both strength and esthetics.
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Try-in Appliances: Save time and materials by printing try-in restorations before the final fabrication.
If any of those applications align with your services—or ones you’re planning to add—a 3D printer could be the key to scaling efficiently.
Why We Recommend the NextDent 5100
At AmericaSmiles, we only promote technology we use and trust in our own milling and printing operations. That’s why we recommend the NextDent 5100 3D Printer—a best-in-class solution for dental labs ready to go digital.
Here’s why it stands out:
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Speed & Precision: Powered by Figure 4™ technology, the NextDent 5100 prints high-accuracy models and appliances quickly, with minimal post-processing.
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Wide Material Compatibility: Compatible with a full range of NextDent resins for everything from models to surgical guides to dentures.
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Open Architecture: Works smoothly with 3Shape and Exocad, plus most dental CAM systems.
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Trusted Brand & Support: Built by 3D Systems—one of the most trusted names in additive manufacturing—and backed by AmericaSmiles’ support and training.
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Exclusive AMS Offer: Purchase the NextDent 5100 through AmericaSmiles and receive 2 years of resin at membership pricing—giving you significant material savings right out of the gate.
So—Do You Really Need One?
If your lab is already outsourcing printed appliances, or you’re looking to expand into digital workflows, investing in a 3D printer is likely a smart move. The cost of entry has come down, the quality of prints has improved, and support from trusted partners like AmericaSmiles means you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
With the right printer—like the NextDent 5100—you’ll be able to bring more production in-house, boost efficiency, and deliver faster, more personalized service to your dentist clients.
