Carbon has announced the development of FP3D, a flexible, removable partial denture (FRPD) resin, at LMT Lab Day Chicago 2025. This material introduces Carbon’s dual-cure chemistry to the dental industry, offering advancements in the performance and reliability of dental appliances.
FP3D: Setting a new standard in flexible removable partial dentures
FP3D challenges what was thought possible with 3D-printed dental resins. Carbon’s first dental resin utilises its dual-cure chemistry, achieving durability, flexibility, and strength and properties similar to some traditionally produced, polymer-based flexible partial denture materials. Expected to launch in late 2025, pending FDA clearance, FP3D may enhance 3D-printed removable partial dentures.
The significance of dual-cure chemistry in dental applications
Traditional single-cure resins often fall short when it comes to demanding dental applications, lacking the necessary durability, retention, and lifetime of the device required for a flexible partial application. Carbon’s FP3D material is designed to overcome these limitations by embedding secondary heat-activated chemistry within the resin. This secondary reaction enables this material to build strength and durability in a bake step without sacrificing viscosity and accuracy in the printing step. This proprietary chemistry results in robust engineering-grade parts through isotropic mechanical responses with high durability.
By introducing dual-cure technology to the dental industry, Carbon aims to enhance the performance and reliability of dental appliances, offering dental professionals and patients the benefits of advanced material science.
Enhancing dental lab efficiency
Building upon the success of the AO Suite launched in 2024, Carbon will introduce new tools designed to further automate and streamline dental lab workflows:
- Automatic print preparation software: This no-code, user-friendly software allows users to automate critical steps in the printing process, from nesting to queuing, reducing manual intervention and enhancing operational efficiency. Automatic Print Preparation empowers labs to scale their production with consistency and ease and is now available for order.
- AO polishing cassette expansion: Now compatible with the M3 and M3 Max printers, the AO Polishing Cassette utilises advanced light-scattering technology to polish parts directly during printing. This results in smoother and clearer parts right off the printer, reducing manual labor and preserving design details. Validated for leading materials such as Dentsply’s Lucitone Digital Print and Desktop Health’s Flexcera Base, this expansion supports the production of denture bases and other dental applications.
