"I've worn the invisible retainer for half a year and none of my classmates noticed it. It's more comfortable than the wire one, and taking it off and putting it back on doesn't interfere with eating or brushing my teeth." Recently, 22-year-old Ms. Chen shared her experience with 3D-printed invisible retainers during a follow-up visit at a municipal stomatological hospital. Today, such retainers-combining aesthetics and comfort-are gradually replacing traditional ones and becoming the first choice for patients after orthodontic treatment.
During a visit to Kangchida Dental Technology Co., Ltd., the reporter learned about its efficient and precise production process: an oral CBCT scan collects dental data in 10 minutes; after a designer builds and adjusts the model, a 3D printer uses medical-grade transparent resin to complete the basic components in 2 hours; and the finished retainer can be delivered to the patient within 3 days. In contrast, traditional manual production takes 3 to 5 days and is prone to dimensional deviations.
"Wire retainers are visible and often scratch the oral mucosa, while ordinary resin retainers have poor fit and tend to deform after about 3 months," said Director Zhou, Chief Technology Officer of the company. He noted that digital invisible retainers, made with 3D modeling, have an error margin of only 0.05 millimeters. The wear-resistant resin extends their service life by 60%, and they can be cleaned simply by rinsing with water.
Dr. Wu, an orthodontist at the municipal stomatological hospital, provided data: from January to September this year, the proportion of patients in the hospital choosing invisible retainers rose from 35% last year to 62%, and the re-visit rate due to retainer misfit (leading to tooth relapse) dropped by 50%. "There was a patient whose teeth shifted after wearing an ordinary resin retainer for half a year, but the teeth stabilized within 3 months after switching to a 3D-printed one," Dr. Wu gave an example.
According to a report by the Chinese Society of Orthodontics, the national penetration rate of invisible retainers has risen from 27% in 2022 to 48% now, and is expected to exceed 60% by 2025. Industry insiders stated that as the cost of 3D printing technology decreases, invisible retainers will become more affordable for more people in the future.