Medicine and Dentistry Surgical planning is most often done with a stereolithography fabricated model. RResins are available that can show a difference in color, for example to highlight a tumor, or show how a tooth is aligned in a mandible. The transparency of the model and its accuracy are an aid to these sorts of applications. Other technologies such as three dimensional printing (3DP) and fused deposition manufacturing (FDM) are also sometimes used for surgical planning, but less frequently.

A stereolithography surgical planning model made with colorizable resin.	Models and final metal implants made by fused deposition modeling (FDM).	A surgical planning model of a jaw made using fused deposition modeling (FDM).	Titanium hip implant made by Laser Engineered Net Shaping (TM) (LENS ®).
(Courtesy, Cadem A.S., Turkey)	(Courtesy, Stratasys Corp.)	(Courtesy, Dr. Robin Richards, Dept. of Medical Physics, University College London, UK)	(Courtesy, Optomec Design Co.)

Castings

Implants. Laser powder forming technologies such as LENS® are most frequently used to directly fabricate larger metal implants. Selective laser sintering and related technologies are also very common choices, especially for smaller items such dental prosthetics. Selective laser melting and electron beam melting are technologies of particular interest for these applications. Metal implants are also very often cast from a fused deposition modeling (FDM)-generated pattern.

Jetted photopolymer systems are used to generate casting patterns for dental laboratories. 3D Systems even makes a machine dedicated to the application. Three dimensional printing (3DP) is being developed to directly mass produce dental crowns and other prostheses. The ability to match color is a potential advantage. Implants that require high resolution, such as spinal devices, are often cast from Solidscape ModelMaker™ patterns.

Hydroxyapatite bone implants and similar devices are often made using selective laser sintering (SLS) or three dimensional printing (3DP).

Stereolithography surgical models and metal prostheses for oral and maxillofacial applications.

(Courtesy, Dr. Ninian S. Peckitt ComputerGen Implants Ltd. UK)

[BioPl]

Tissue engineering matrices are probably most frequently made using three dimensional printing. Modified stereolithography techniques are also used, typically with a hydrogel-based photopolymer. Selective laser sintering is often the method used for bone matrices where its porosity and load-bearing abilities are advantageous. Envisiontec GmbH (Germany) makes a syringe-based additive deposition system called the Bioplotter™ which is well-adapted to tissue engineering applications.