CASE STUDY - NIVELLMEDICAL

INDUSTRY SEGMENT : HEALTHCARE | Dental

CUSTOMER

nivellmedical provides the nivellipso solution, an aesthetic alternative to fixed braces. The alignment system features virtually invisible plastic splints that gently—but effectively—move a patient’s teeth to the desired position.

Every nivellipso treatment case is based on a series of custom-made, removable splints made from biocompatible plastic. The "aligners" are transparent, removable, and anti-allergenic. They act gently and according to a precise treatment plan to move teeth to the intended position. This easy-to-use treatment method can be seamlessly integrated into any daily routine.

Initially, a computer-aided 3D treatment plan is prepared to ensure the ideal course of treatment. Your practitioner and nivellipso’s planning experts work closely to ensure that your custom-made aligners are the perfect fit and that your teeth move to the proper position within the calculated treatment period, resulting in a reliable treatment option that is based on state-of-the-art technology.

nivellipso aligners are made of high-grade, biocompatible polymers that retain maximum transparency during processing, providing a discreet and aesthetic solution. According to patients, nivellipso aligners are less visible than comparable treatment methods.

JIGS, FIXTURES AND TOOLS

DENTAL MOLDS

To create the molds using a digitalization process, the dentist 3D scans the patient’s teeth (or employs intraoral scanning) to make a plaster model. Then a virtual treatment object (VTO) is created and operated by a software that completes the intermediate steps to reach the patient’s desired teeth alignment. The team, which is composed of dentists and dental technicians, formulates the dental treatment plan. Using the software and treating each tooth individually, they can create the final dental arch 3D models for each treatment step. The 3D dental arch models are 3D printed and used as a mold to thermoform the final end-use dental aligner

PRODUCTIVITY
Former SLA 3D printing: Up to 100 molds/print
HP 3D MJF: Up to 1,000 molds/day

COST SAVINGS
Former SLA 3D printing: 25€/mold
HP 3D MJF: 2,50€/mold
90% Cost reduction

Each patient could require between 10 and 15 treatment steps, and each treatment step consists of three dental arch aligners per jaw. The whole treatment requires the use of approximately 30 aligners and 10 molds to produce the aligners. Each aligner is produced with three different thicknesses as different strengths are required for each step. The single aligners are produced by thermoforming them on the 3D printed molds. In the end, an average complex case consists of 60 to 70 aligners and 20 to 30 molds for such an alignment treatment. The cost savings achieved in each alignment treatment is about 450€ to 900€ per treatment

QUALITY & PERFORMANCE

Former SLA 3D printing: Some of the molds would break due to their poor mechanical properties and high anisotropy on the Z axis.

HP 3D MJF: No molds have broken during the overall production, which makes production easier to manage and saves extra time.

The molds are exposed to working temperatures of 150ºC to 160ºC. The HP MJF molds work consistently well throughout the thermoforming process, and there have been no temperature issues.

MATERIAL
HP 3D HR PA 12

POST-PROCESSING
Bead blasting

VIEW THE PRINTERS USED

HP Jet Fusion 3D  300/500 Printers
HP Jet Fusion 3D 4210/4200
CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE


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