Sep 1, 2017 | By Tess
Smartee Denti-Technology, a Shanghai-based company that specializes in 3D printed orthodontic solutions, has successfully raised 50 million yuan (USD $7.6M) through a B round of financing. Investors included Bioventure Investment Management Limited and private equity firm CDBI Partners.
Founded in 2004, Smartee Denti-Technology claims to be one of the first companies to use 3D printing technology in the field of orthodontics, using additive manufacturing to develop its novel “invisible treatment technology,” a discreet alternative to traditional wire braces.
As the company explains it—and as many brace-wearers will know—traditional wire braces can be uncomfortable, and are not exactly the most flattering of accessories. Additionally, the effectiveness of braces is dependent on the orthodontist who is installing them, and how skilled they are at it.
Obviously, this leaves lots of room for errors and inconsistencies.
In an effort to offer patients a more consistent and inconspicuous orthodontic solution, Smartee researchers set about using the 3D modeling and 3D printing technologies at their disposal. The result? An invisible treatment technology that uses scanning, 3D modeling, digital simulation correction design, and 3D printing to create a batch of wearable dental aligners.
The company compares its dental products to contact lenses, in that they are invisible and can be worn unobtrusively while simultaneously correcting your teeth. The idea is that users will be given a batch of custom-made braces (about 30 to 40 of them) and will wear them in succession, gradually moving their teeth into place.
For its first few years of operation, Smartee Denti-Technology partnered with various domestic 3D printing services to help it fulfill its additive needs. It was only in 2013 that the company took the plunge and invested in its own 3D printer: a light-curing stereolithography 3D printer made by Shanghai Union Technology.
Since then, the company has been increasing its scale of production and has even expanded its factory. With the money raised through its recent funding round, Smartee Denti-Technology’s founder Yao Junfeng says the company will expand its product development research and seek to optimize its orthodontic technology.
Within the healthcare industry, the field of dentistry has arguably seen the most immediate benefits of 3D printing technologies. Various 3D printer manufacturers have released AM systems dedicated specifically to dental applications, and dental offices have seen the cost and time advantages of installing 3D printers.
From surgical guides, to dental trays, and even to crown molds and aligners, 3D printing has offered an unprecedented ease of customization. If you don’t believe us, just ask Smartee Denti-Technology.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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