3D Printed Night Guard Workflow Simplified: Scan, Design, Print, Finish, and Deliver In-House – Presented by Zylo3D

Wednesday, September 23rd

12pm – 1pm

Online via Zoom

FREE for SCCDS Members and Guests

1 CE Unit

This course introduces a practical, office-based workflow for fabricating 3D printed night guards using modern digital dentistry tools. The presentation walks participants through the full process from patient scanning to appliance design, slicing, printing, washing, curing, post-processing, clinical try-in, occlusal adjustment, and delivery.

The course emphasizes how 3D printing can simplify night guard production by reducing lab dependency, shortening turnaround time, improving control over fit and quality, and allowing same-day or next-day delivery when appropriate. Participants will learn how an integrated digital workflow can improve efficiency for the dental team while enhancing the patient experience.

Key workflow topics include intraoral scanning, bite opening with a leaf gauge, capturing upper and lower arches plus an open-bite registration, creating adequate clearance for appliance thickness, using design services or rapid digital design tools, preparing STL files in slicing software, selecting compatible printers and resins, orienting the appliance, generating supports, printing, washing with isopropyl alcohol, curing, removing supports, polishing or finishing, and performing a quick clinical try-in.

The presentation also reviews the role of all-in-one 3D printing systems such as Zylo3D, design service options, rapid design tools such as Clinux, resin considerations including splint/night guard materials, and practical implementation tips for dental offices beginning in-house appliance production.

By the end of the session, participants should understand the major clinical and operational steps required to implement a predictable 3D printed night guard workflow and recognize how digital production can reduce turnaround time, increase quality control, reduce costs, and improve practice efficiency.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

1. Describe the clinical and operational advantages of producing night guards with an in-office 3D printing workflow.
2. Identify the main steps in a digital night guard workflow, including scanning, design, slicing, printing, washing, curing, finishing, and delivery.
3. Explain how proper intraoral scanning and bite registration affect the fit, durability, and clinical success of a printed night guard.
4. Understand how a leaf gauge can be used to open the bite and create approximately 3 mm of clearance for night guard design.
5. Compare traditional lab-fabricated appliance workflows with in-house digital fabrication in terms of turnaround time, cost, quality control, and patient experience.
6. Discuss the role of design services and rapid digital design tools in preparing night guard files for 3D printing.
7. Recognize basic slicing considerations, including STL import, printer/resin selection, model orientation, and support generation.
8. Review post-processing steps including washing, curing, support removal, polishing, and finishing options.
9. Describe clinical try-in steps for evaluating fit, comfort, retention, and occlusion before appliance delivery.
10. Identify practical implementation considerations for training team members and integrating 3D printed appliances into a dental office.

Speaker Information

Dr. Jahanzabe “Jay” Siddiqui is a practicing dentist and owner of Radiant Dental Care in Chevy Chase, Maryland. His clinical focus includes digital dentistry, restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry, same-day dentistry, and technology-driven patient care.

Dr. Siddiqui uses a fully digital workflow in daily practice, including intraoral scanning, CBCT imaging, 3D printing, in-office milling, digital treatment planning, and same-day restorative procedures. His practice emphasizes precision, efficiency, patient education, and using technology to improve both clinical outcomes and the patient experience.

In this course, Dr. Siddiqui shares a practical approach to implementing 3D printed night guards in a dental office, with emphasis on simplified workflows, team delegation, scanning accuracy, appliance design, post-processing, clinical fit, and predictable delivery.