Dental practices and labs focused on implant‑supported prosthetics (e.g., all‑on‑X) are increasingly turning to high‑quality 3D printing to handle the demands of speed, customization, and cost‑effectiveness.
The Formlabs dental‑printer ecosystem delivers production‑ready capability for large‑format parts, validated materials, and streamlined workflows. Let's dive into what makes the Formlabs Form 4B such a suitable and affordable option for practices and labs.
The Form 4B offers high speed, open‑material flexibility (via “Open Mode”), and proven reliability—a major step forward from earlier Formlabs dental printers.
Its larger sibling, the Form 4BL (and previously Form 3BL) features a build volume of 33.5 × 20 × 30 cm, allowing printing of up to ~120 models per day or full‑arch frameworks.
Materials are validated for full‑arch implant‑supported appliances, such as framework bases or try‑ins, notably via the “Premium Teeth Resin” line.
1. Material Indications for All‑on‑X / Implant Appliances
Formlabs has explicitly indicated workflows for full‑arch implant‑supported restorations using its Premium Teeth Resin and other materials—“3D printed full‑arch implant‐supported appliances (all‑on‑X appliances)” are supported.
2. Scalability & Throughput
Labs or practices producing multiple frameworks or models for implant cases benefit from the large build size, efficient nesting and print speeds. The ecosystem emphasizes “non‑stop throughput” with minimal intervention.
3. Workflow Integration
Formlabs supports dental‑specific workflows—scan → design → print → finish—with validated resin workflows and compatible CAD/CAM integrations. This is essential for implant + full‑arch prosthetic workflows.
Advantages:
High resolution and accuracy for frameworks, try‑ins, models, and appliances.
Validated biocompatible materials (e.g., Premium Teeth Resin) for intraoral use.
Open‑material support (in newer models) allowing third‑party resin options for implant parts. Institute of Digital Dentistry
Rapid print and efficient post‑processing reduce turnaround times.
Considerations:
While printing full arches is supported, many final implant frameworks still require milling or metal/zirconia substructure depending on material choice.
For in‑house printing of permanent full‑arch frameworks, one must verify the resin’s long‑term strength and clinical indication (many resins are temporary or try‑in).
Investment in post‑processing equipment (wash + cure stations) and material cost remain relevant.
Workflow adoption requires training: design for full‑arch prosthetics differs from simpler restorations.
A dental lab supporting implant‑based prosthetics could adopt the Form 4B system to print:
Working models for surgical planning (e.g., verification stents)
Try‑in full‑arch frameworks using Premium Teeth Resin or other validated materials
Custom temporary full‑arch appliances while final frameworks are being fabricated elsewhere
By printing these parts in‑house, the lab/practice can reduce outsourcing costs, shorten waiting times, and offer more controlled quality.
For practices and labs focused on implant‑supported full‑arch prosthetics, the Formlabs Form 4B/4BL ecosystem offers a serious, production‑capable solution for large‑format 3D printing. While not every final implant framework may be printed at this time, the system supports many of the critical components—models, try‑ins, temporaries, and even full‑arch appliances for some indications.
If you’re looking to expand your implant/restorative workflow and bring more production in‑house, the Formlabs printers deserve a strong look.
Want to see how this fits your implant/full‑arch workflow or calculate ROI? We can walk you through:
Ideal build volumes for your case load
Compatible materials for full‑arch use
Post‑processing equipment and operational cost
Integration with your scanner, CAD/CAM, and milling/finishing ecosystem
👉 Contact Voxel Dental today to schedule a demo of the Form 4B/4BL system and explore how it can support your implant/arch workflow.