Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)

Direct metal laser sintering, or DMLS, is an additive manufacturing process whereby a 200 Watt Ytterbium (Yb) fiber-optic laser moves across a bed of powdered metal melting or welding the metal in very thin layers (about 200um) according to the build protocol. After each solidified layer, a recoater blade evenly distributes new powder across the build platform until the entire build file (STL File) is complete. The process has high resolution and good surface detail. The use of DMLS in dentistry has allowed for the creation of strong and durable bridges, crowns, partial dentures, and dental prosthetics. Such devices are often made of cobalt chrome and can be custom-made for the patient by following a model of the patient’s dentition and oral anatomy. Direct metal laser sintering has been found to produce dental prosthetics with both long-term strength and durability. A potential disadvantage to DMLS is the high cost that is associated with the manufacture of the prosthetics.