Project Details
Projekt
Investigation of the usability of recycled polymers in the context of additive manufacturing in the field of dental technology for the production of aligner models with regard to toxicology and accuracy of fit in comparison to alternative methods.
Applicants
Dr. Hisham Sabbagh; Dr.-Ing. Malte Stonis
Subject Area
Dentistry, Oral Surgery
Primary Shaping and Reshaping Technology, Additive Manufacturing
Primary Shaping and Reshaping Technology, Additive Manufacturing
Term
since 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 541342162
The aim of the proposed research project is to answer the question of whether and how often polymers used in dental technology can be recycled through additive manufacturing in order to be used for the production of aligner models. In particular, questions regarding the degradation, toxicology and surface quality of additively manufactured denture models are currently not sufficiently answered. Here, the fused-layer process on a filament or granulate basis explicitly offers the advantage of direct recyclability without the need for chemical treatment processes. The investigated process will be compared with other model-based processes (stereolithography) and modelfree processes (direct printing of aligners) to assess the clinical suitability with regard to toxicology and clinical criteria. In particular, the question of whether - and if so, to what extent - harmful substances are introduced into the plastic through recycling and transferred to the aligners moulded by thermoforming is to be investigated within the scope of the project applied for. The clinical criteria focus on the investigation of material properties and the fit between the aligners and reference models, as these determine the therapeutic force development. The introduction of a circular economy with assured quality in the dental environment offers the potential to make the growing market of tooth correction more sustainable and to reduce waste production through resin-based procedures.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
