Application of rapid prototyping technology in dentistry

Rapid prototyping (RP) technologies are the most widely applied and known fabrication methods that are based on additive fabrication principles. RP represents a new set of manufacturing processes that can fabricate a representative three-dimensional (3D) physical model of any shape directly from a computer-aided design (CAD) model by using layer fabrication technique. As the result of the development in modern imaging, computerised 3D data processing and advanced engineering techniques, medical prostheses like dental prostheses can be accurately designed from CAD technique and the physical model of prostheses can be produced through RP, rapid tooling and computer-aided manufacturing technology. This paper discusses the application of RP technology in dentistry and methods of design and fabrication of dental prostheses by using RP technologies.