<p>There are a Ton of issues with using this type of material. First off there is no way anything that comes out of your FDM printer will be sanitary enough to meet the requirements for medical applications. Your nozzle might even be contain Lead. Last you would need this printer to be cleaned to clean room standards. As well as stored and operated in one..</p>

<p>Second I have not heard of a flexible material that meets FDA requirements. (which is not the same as does not) You have to worry about even the additives they add for color. Or straight up contamination of the material. </p>

<p>I do want to mention that there are people who use SLA printers for dental items. I cannot say how SLA would meet food or medical grade requirements. My guess is a lack of regulation. </p>

<p>So a bad idea I would say...</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-14T09:54:29.590Z
Thanks for the input. So looking into SLA printers could take me in the right direction? I only want to see what is the possibility for dental requirements!
Jash Jacob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-14T16:11:06.553Z
Yeah check out Form Labs article about it. https://formlabs.com/industries/dentistry/
MakerModder
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-13T21:39:51.863Z
2016-12-13T21:39:51.863Z
MakerModder
<p>Can the flexible TPU filament be used in the case of printing a dental fixture?</p>

<p>Filament - <a href="http://www.sainsmart.com/sainsmart-1-75mm-1kg-2-2lb-flexible-tpu-series-filament-for-3d-printers-reprap.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SainSmart 1.75mm 1kg/2.2lb Flexible (TPU) Series Filament for 3D Printers RepRap</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-03T08:17:33.540Z
Hi, what are the requirements of a dental fixture? Is it for practical usage or simply a showcase model? Could you link the filament you have in mind?
Tormod Haugene
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-06T08:44:28.887Z
@TormodHaugene For practical usage. Filament - http://www.sainsmart.com/sainsmart-1-75mm-1kg-2-2lb-flexible-tpu-series-filament-for-3d-printers-reprap.html
Jash Jacob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-07T17:08:22.777Z
Would it require FDA approval?
JKEngineer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-09T01:49:01.340Z
@JKEngineer Nope. Just for experimentation.
Jash Jacob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-09T03:34:41.463Z
So your question boils down to whether the physical properties of the TPU filament would match the requirements of a dental fixture, right?  If so, @Tormod Haugenge 's question regarding requirements becomes very germaine.
JKEngineer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-09T03:52:44.587Z
@JKEngineer I want to understand the possibility if TPU filament is good enough to test for dental fixtures and possibly customized solution in the near future for dental application before getting FDA approval.
Jash Jacob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-09T08:53:36.597Z
@JashJacob, for those of us not into dental implants, could you perhaps edit your question to give a brief introduction on what the requirements are? :-)
Tormod Haugene
<3d-models>
TPU filament usage for dental application?
Jash Jacob
# TPU filament usage for dental application?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-02)

Can the flexible TPU filament be used in the case of printing a dental fixture?

Filament - [SainSmart 1.75mm 1kg/2.2lb Flexible (TPU) Series Filament for 3D Printers RepRap](http://www.sainsmart.com/sainsmart-1-75mm-1kg-2-2lb-flexible-tpu-series-filament-for-3d-printers-reprap.html).

**Tags:** 3d-models

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hi, what are the requirements of a dental fixture? Is it for practical usage or simply a showcase model? Could you link the filament you have in mind?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 For practical usage. Filament - http://www.sainsmart.com/sainsmart-1-75mm-1kg-2-2lb-flexible-tpu-series-filament-for-3d-printers-reprap.html  
> **username_2**: Would it require FDA approval?  
> **username_0**: @username_2 Nope. Just for experimentation.  
> **username_2**: So your question boils down to whether the physical properties of the TPU filament would match the requirements of a dental fixture, right?  If so, @username_1 Haugenge 's question regarding requirements becomes very germaine.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 I want to understand the possibility if TPU filament is good enough to test for dental fixtures and possibly customized solution in the near future for dental application before getting FDA approval.  
> **username_1**: @username_0, for those of us not into dental implants, could you perhaps edit your question to give a brief introduction on what the requirements are? :-)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-12-13. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

There are a Ton of issues with using this type of material. First off there is no way anything that comes out of your FDM printer will be sanitary enough to meet the requirements for medical applications. Your nozzle might even be contain Lead. Last you would need this printer to be cleaned to clean room standards. As well as stored and operated in one..

Second I have not heard of a flexible material that meets FDA requirements. (which is not the same as does not) You have to worry about even the additives they add for color. Or straight up contamination of the material.

I do want to mention that there are people who use SLA printers for dental items. I cannot say how SLA would meet food or medical grade requirements. My guess is a lack of regulation.

So a bad idea I would say...

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the input. So looking into SLA printers could take me in the right direction? I only want to see what is the possibility for dental requirements!  
> **username_3**: Yeah check out Form Labs article about it. https://formlabs.com/industries/dentistry/  

---

