I have been on the electric car bandwagon for over four years now. I don’t think I’ll ever go back. Being able to “refuel” my vehicle overnight in my garage while I sleep is awesome! Never having to go to the gas station is awesome!
Electric cars haven’t always been so awesome, though. Early versions had limited mileage range, causing logistical concerns. No one wants to get stuck charging in the middle of the day while just out running errands!
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3D printing has had a similar course in dentistry. We see the promise, but some of the logistics are an issue right now. One of the hang-ups is the postprint curing. That can take enough time to make it not feasible to do daily. The Curie Plus by Ackuretta takes us steps closer to the full integration of 3D printing into dental practices.
The Curie Plus is a postprint UV curing oven that is needed for anything we 3D print. It helps convert any remaining monomer and bring the 3D printed material to the highest strength. The FDA actually mandates that anything being used in the mouth be appropriately cured in a UV curing oven. This can add many minutes onto the fabrication process. When this applies to creating things to be used in the mouth such as splints, crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers, the postprint cure times can be a big hurdle. It makes 3D printing not really a same-day procedure like milling. Improvements in the postprint curing process such as with the Curie Plus get us closer to same-day 3D printed dentistry.
As a certified class IIa biocompatible curing unit, the Curie Plus guarantees reliable, fast results. While it works directly with the Ackuretta Sol, it can be used with any dental 3D printer. It has an all-metal body construction, an automatic door, and Wi-Fi-connected firmware updates. Included in the Curie Plus are 65 high-density LEDs for full light penetration from both sides, meaning nothing has to be flipped halfway through for a full cure. Simply load your print into the Curie Plus and walk away. It can cure up to eight full arches at a time, making it capable for the heaviest 3D printing offices.
Because of its high power, it cures in less time, making 3D printing workflows faster and easier. A model, a crown, a splint, and a surgical guide can be cured in five minutes. A denture base can be cured in seven minutes and a bridge in 20 minutes. With times that quick, I think we’re finally reaching the possibility of same-day 3D printed dentistry. What an exciting time! Whether or not you’re using an Ackuretta 3D printer, the Curie Plus is an amazing choice for your postprint curing.
Joshua Austin, DDS, MAGD, is a graduate and former faculty member of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry. Author of Dental Economics’ Pearls for Your Practice column, Dr. Austin lectures nationally on products, dental technology, online reputation management, and social media. He maintains a full-time restorative dentistry private practice in San Antonio, Texas. You may contact Dr. Austin at [email protected].
Editor's note: This article appeared in the December 2023 print edition of Dental Economics magazine. Dentists in North America are eligible for a complimentary print subscription. Sign up here.
