Open wide… 3D printing technology is steadily making way within the dental industry, as 3D printing companies such as 
3D printed mold used to create retainer
Don't Try This at Home! One Maker Uses 3D Printing for DIY Orthodontics
After 3D printing the aligner steps and the ‘riser’, which helps control the potential draping effect from taking ahold of the vacuum forming plastic, he vacuum formed the retainer. Dudley then used a Dremel with a sanding drum to smooth out the edges, which protects the gums from potential irritation. Together, these 3D printed pieces helped to form a perfectly sized retainer for Dudley’s teeth, proving that, with great caution and education, it is possible to be your own orthodontist!
“They’re much more comfortable than braces, and fit my teeth quite well. I was pleased to find, when I put the first one on, that it only seemed to put any noticeable pressure on the teeth that I planned to move- a success! I’ve been wearing them all day and all night for 16 weeks, only taking them out to eat,” Dudley writes in his blog. “And, most importantly, I feel like I can freely smile again. That’s what’s most important.”
