Periodontal Tissue Scaffold Produced Using Three-Dimensional Printer

Three-dimensional (3D) printers may play an increasingly important role in dentistry. Already being used in restorative procedures to create computer-designed prostheses from digitally scanned impressions, this technology is now making inroads into periodontal therapy. In fact, a paper from the International and American Associations for Dental Research, “3D Printed Bioresorbable Scaffold for Periodontal Repair,” points to intriguing new possibilities.

Appearing in the Journal of Dental Research, the report details the first human case of treating a large periodontal osseous defect with a 3D-printed scaffold. The authors note that while the bioresorbable polymer scaffold and signaling growth factor proved successful over a 12-month period, the scaffold eventually failed. Though long-term success proved elusive, the team believes that 3D printing should be further evaluated for reconstruction of dental and craniofacial anomalies. In addition, they suggest that future investigations include the use of different classes of biomaterials for such renderings.