Current 3D Printing and Developed 4D Printing Technologies in Dentistry

The abstract explains that 3D printing is already widely used in digital dentistry to make patient-specific dental models and devices such as surgical guides, orthodontic appliances, splints, and provisional restorations. It emphasizes improved efficiency and accuracy in clinical and laboratory workflows. It then contrasts conventional 3D printed structures as static, noting they may not adapt well to the changing conditions of the oral environment. To address this, the abstract introduces 4D printing as a time-dependent approach that uses smart materials responding to stimuli like temperature, pH, light, or moisture. The abstract suggests potential adaptive dental applications, including self-adjusting orthodontic appliances, responsive prosthetic structures, and bioactive scaffolds for tissue engineering. It concludes that 4D printing is early-stage and requires more work on materials, biocompatibility, and long-term clinical performance before routine clinical use.