Rapid Prototyping: A Modernistic Era in Prosthodontics

Rapid prototyping is a branch of technicality, significantly to form a scale model of a physical part or assembly rapidly by making use of three-dimensional computer aided design (CAD) data.3D printing or additive layer manufacturing technology is used to create the part or assembly rapidly in a precise form. CAD/CAM technology was created initially to manufacture prototypes for industrial purposes. Rapid Prototyping technology persuade the configuration and quick generation of large quantities of precise parts by the industrial manufacturing within a specific time with accuracy and pace. In the previous two decades this technology was utilized efficiently in the medical field with a promising results. Rapid prototyping has various dental applications as well, such as fabrication of implant surgical guides, zirconia prosthesisand molds for metal castings, maxillofacial prosthesis and frameworks for fixed and removable partial dentures, wax patterns for dental prosthesis and complete denture. In this review the technique, methods and various implications of this emerging technology regarding prosthodontic will be discussed.